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Big Boy Restaurants

This article is about the overall restaurant chain. For the original California restaurant chain, see Bob's Big Boy. For the Ohio-based regional restaurant chain, see Frisch's Big Boy.

Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC
Big Boy, Big Boy Restaurants
Company typePrivate
IndustryCasual dining restaurant
PredecessorsBig Boy Restaurants International, LLC
Bob's Pantry
Elias Brothers Restaurants, Inc.
Marriott Corporation
Robert C. Wian Enterprises
FoundedAugust 6, 1936 (1936-08-06) (as Bob's Pantry)
Glendale, California, U.S.[1]
FounderBob Wian
HeadquartersSouthfield, Michigan, United States
Area served
Key people
  • Tamer Afr (CEO, 2020–present)
  • David B. Crawford (CEO, 2018–2020)[5]
  • Bruce Ferguson (CFO)
  • Robert Liggett Jr. (Chairman, 2000–2018)[6][3]
Products
  • Big Boy hamburger
  • Brawny Lad sandwich
  • Hot Fudge Cake
  • Slim Jim sandwich
  • Strawberry pie
  • Fish and Chips
Websitebigboy.com

Big Boy Restaurant Group, LLC, doing business as Big Boy, is an American casual dining restaurant chain headquartered in Southfield, Michigan.[7] The Big Boy name, design aesthetic, and menu were previously licensed to a number of regional franchisees.

Big Boy began as Bob's Pantry in 1936 by Bob Wian in Glendale, California.[8]: 11  The restaurants became known as "Bob's", "Bob's Drive-Ins",[9][10][note 1] "Bob's, Home of the Big Boy Hamburger",[10] and (commonly as) Bob's Big Boy. It became a local chain under that name and nationally under the Big Boy name, franchised by Robert C. Wian Enterprises; Wian only required franchisees to use "Big Boy" and not include his name "Bob's". Marriott Corporation bought Big Boy in 1967. One of the larger franchise operators, Elias Brothers, purchased the chain from Marriott in 1987, moved the headquarters of the company to Warren, Michigan, and operated it until bankruptcy was declared in 2000. During the bankruptcy, the chain was sold to investor Robert Liggett Jr., who took over as chairman, renamed the company Big Boy Restaurants International and maintained the headquarters in Warren. In 2018, Big Boy was sold to a group of Michigan investors and renamed Big Boy Restaurant Group, with David Crawford as chairman, CEO, and co-owner of the new company.[6][3] In January 2020, Tamer Afr replaced Crawford as chairman, CEO, and co-owner.[12] As of April 2024, the company operates 55 total locations in the United States: 51 "Big Boy" branded restaurants in Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, and Ohio; and four additional locations in California branded as "Bob's Big Boy".[13] One Big Boy location also operates in Thailand.[14]

Immediately after Liggett's purchase, Big Boy Restaurants International—then known as Liggett Restaurant Enterprises—negotiated an agreement with the other large franchise operator, Frisch's Restaurants. The Big Boy trademarks in Kentucky, Indiana, and most of Ohio and Tennessee transferred to Frisch's ownership; all other Frisch's territories transferred to Liggett.[15][16][note 2] Thus Frisch's is no longer a franchisee; instead, Big Boy Restaurant Group and Frisch's are now independent co-registrants of the Big Boy name and trademark.[17] Frisch's operates about 90 Big Boy restaurants in the United States, of which 10 are franchised.[18][19]

Big Boy Japan, also independent of Big Boy Restaurant Group, operates 274 restaurants in Japan.[3][4][20]

  1. ^ Slavin, Barbara (August 9, 1978). "Drive-ins and carhops are things of the past". The Day. New London, CT. The New York Times Service. p. 5. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  2. ^ Selasky, Susan (August 9, 2019). "Pasquale's site in Royal Oak to become home to Big Boy, possibly Buddy's Pizza". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Frank, Annalise (August 11, 2019). "Big Boy looks to bounce back under new ownership". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on August 11, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "About Us". Big Boy Japan. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  5. ^ Clifford, Tyler (February 13, 2018). "Big Boy promotes David Crawford as permanent CEO". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Frank, Annalise (July 15, 2019). "Radio entrepreneur, former Big Boy owner Robert Liggett dies". Crain's Detroit Business. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  7. ^ ""Big Boy"". Big Boy Restaurants. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hansen 2002 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Advertisement April 1956 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b "Bob's home of the 'Big Boy' [Advertisement]". Valley News. Van Nuys, CA. June 29, 1961. p. 38B. Retrieved December 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Smalley 1947 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Frank, Annalise (January 16, 2020). "New Big Boy ownership moves forward on comeback, but not without some bumps". Crains Detroit Business. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020.
  13. ^ "Locations". Big Boy. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Locations". Big Boy Thailand. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  15. ^ "Transfer Agreement between The Liggett Restaurant Group and Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. Archived June 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine", January 12, 2001.
  16. ^ "Agreement Regarding Use of Trademarks", November 7, 2007.
  17. ^ a b Biank-Fasig, Lisa (January 10, 2001). "Ohio turf gets larger for Frisch's". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 5, 2016. Craig Maier, chief executive of Frisch's, said the bankruptcy nearly cost the Cincinnati company its right to franchise Big Boys.
         'In a bankruptcy proceeding, franchise contracts are considered to be no different than a contract to owe money,' Mr. Maier said. 'They could have said, "You are no longer franchisee of the Big Boy system."'
  18. ^ ...
  19. ^ "Frisch's Restaurants Announces Transaction with Affiliate of NRD Partners I, L.P. at $34 Per Share" (Press release). Cincinnati: Frisch's Restaurants. PR Newswire. May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Agreement Contemplates Continued Operation of all 95 Company Owned Frisch's Restaurants along with 26 Franchised Locations
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference zensho was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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