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Frisch's Big Boy death watch

Started by bandit957, December 13, 2024, 10:07:01 PM

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bandit957

There's no wa! Badeedle-badeed! At Frisch's Big Boy! 'Cause it ain't such a value!

Frisch's Big Boy is a widely ridiculed restaurant chain around Cincinnati. Now many (if not most) of its locations are closing after being evicted for not paying rent.

I used to enjoy eating at the one in Fort Thomas when I was very young, but that changed when I was about 6 or 7 when I got food poisoning there. The restaurant also gained a greasy stench that I've also detected in other restaurants. That location closed maybe 10 or 15 years ago.

I think the last time I ate at a Frisch's was in the late 2000s when a group of us went to the one in Milford because nothing else was open. About 5 or 6 years ago, I planned to eat at the one near downtown Covington because it had just reopened after being remodeled. But I went in there and noticed it looked like the same old Frisch's. Now that location is closing despite being recently remodeled.

Also, the whole chain has gone downhill since they were taken over by some private equity firm about 10 years ago. Someone on a review website said they found a bunch of cigarette butts and other garbage in their Dr Pepper. Other reviews say their restrooms have bodily waste smeared everywhere.

So Frisch's is in shambles, and the whole chain is on its last legs.
Might as well face it, pooing is cool


Henry

I think it's awful how a chain ended up in the condition it is in now, and reading the last two paragraphs in the OP made me want to puke. But at least they had that cute, charming mascot as their one redeeming quality.

In Chicago, we had Marc's Big Boy, and I remember eating there during my summer breaks from school. The last time I went was back in 1993, just before they closed for good. 

Of course, if you remember the glory years, the flagship franchisee was Bob's Big Boy (another favorite former haunt of mine in my Los Angeles years), with Shoney's as another major partner before splintering off into its own company.

And if you ever wondered how the chain's namesake burger got its name, here's the answer:

QuoteThe chain is best known for its trademark chubby boy with a pompadour hairstyle wearing red-and-white checkered overalls holding a Big Boy sandwich (double-decker cheeseburger). The inspiration for Big Boy's name, as well as the model for its mascot, was Richard Woodruff of Glendale, California. When he was six years old, Woodruff walked into the diner Bob's Pantry as Bob Wian was attempting to name his new hamburger. Wian said, "Hello, Big Boy" to Woodruff, and the name stuck. Warner Bros. animation artist Ben Washam sketched Richard's caricature, which became the character seen on the company trademark.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

Scott5114

Quote from: Henry on December 13, 2024, 11:03:10 PMOf course, if you remember the glory years, the flagship franchisee was Bob's Big Boy (another favorite former haunt of mine in my Los Angeles years), with Shoney's as another major partner before splintering off into its own company.

They just opened a new Bob's Big Boy up the road from me not too long ago. Way up the road...in Indian Springs, Nevada, a little town stuck to the side of an Air Force base. Why they decided to open one there instead of in Las Vegas (which has no Big Boy locations), I have no idea.
uncontrollable freak sardine salad chef

LilianaUwU

Quote from: Scott5114 on December 13, 2024, 11:28:49 PMWhy they decided to open one there instead of in Las Vegas (which has no Big Boy locations), I have no idea.
Probably a question of market. I wouldn't open a lesser known franchise in Québec City where the market is saturated... but it might have a chance in my hometown where there aren't that many options.
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Scott5114

Quote from: LilianaUwU on December 14, 2024, 12:56:03 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on December 13, 2024, 11:28:49 PMWhy they decided to open one there instead of in Las Vegas (which has no Big Boy locations), I have no idea.
Probably a question of market. I wouldn't open a lesser known franchise in Québec City where the market is saturated... but it might have a chance in my hometown where there aren't that many options.

I guess there are enough people coming through on US-95 and in and out of Creech AFB to make having 100% of the market worth it.

Still, though, there's enough places in the Las Vegas Valley where you could plop a store down and be the first one in the area before it develops around you, if "get 100% of a small number of people" was your market strategy.
uncontrollable freak sardine salad chef

1995hoo

We had Bob's Big Boy here. The one across from my high school was torn down and is now a Wendy's. A different one lives on in local lore: The one in Springfield was torn down and, over time, there have been other restaurants there (Long John Silver's and Chi-Chi's come to mind; I think it's now a Panda Express), but the people using the nearby slug line still generally call the location "Bob's," as in a driver pulling up to the line in DC and calling out, "Two for Bob's."

Bob's Big Boy used to have a promo at the hockey games where if the Caps shut out the other team, you got a coupon for a free burger. I don't remember when that ended; it was replaced by a local pizza chain giving you a coupon for free pizza if they scored a certain number of goals.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

02 Park Ave

Is Frisch's Big Boy related to Bob's Big Boy?

Is Bob's Big Boy related to Carl's Jr.?
C-o-H

SP Cook

Quote from: 02 Park Ave on December 14, 2024, 09:34:12 AMIs Frisch's Big Boy related to Bob's Big Boy?

Is Bob's Big Boy related to Carl's Jr.?

Big Boy was an early form of franchising.  Unlike modern franchising, where the point is to be exactly alike all over, under Big Boy different companies had different regions and each had their own designs and menus, which were quite different.  There were about 20 different Big Boy chains, the largest being Shoney's, which had most of the South; followed by Cincinnati centered Frish's, the original Bob's in California, and Detroit centered Elias Brothers. 

Eventually, TV advertising and overlap, caused a series of lawsuits between different franchises.  Eventually it all fell apart, with the different restaurants either just dropping "Big Boy", as Shoney's did, or going out of business as that type of restaurant has fallen from favor.

Leaving two companies.  The remnant of the old Elias Brothers has the rights to Big Boy, including the "Bob's" variant, in most of the world, and Frish's has most of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, and a few other states where it doesn't have restaurants, but owns the trademark. 

Carls Jr has no relationship with either company.


bandit957

I remember seeing Shoney's Big Boy when we visited Tennessee or Georgia. But then Shoney's expanded up around here, and they had to drop their Big Boy because it infringed on Frisch's territory.

There was also Elby's Big Boy in eastern Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. I think there was an Azar's Big Boy in parts of Indiana.
Might as well face it, pooing is cool

Big John

1978 Big Boy ad. go to :45 mark where they are flashing all their franchise logos.


Rothman

Is Frisch's actually shrinking?  Not sure if its decline is as dramatic as other dying chains.  Seems to be holding on in KY well enough.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

1995hoo

Quote from: bandit957 on December 14, 2024, 10:24:31 AMI remember seeing Shoney's Big Boy when we visited Tennessee or Georgia. But then Shoney's expanded up around here, and they had to drop their Big Boy because it infringed on Frisch's territory.

There was also Elby's Big Boy in eastern Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. I think there was an Azar's Big Boy in parts of Indiana.

This thread prompted me to look up "Big Boy Restaurants" on Wikipedia. Quite the convoluted explanation. I largely skimmed the article because it was more detail than I was seeking, but it explains the system as sort of a "chain of chains."
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

wanderer2575

I can't imagine how a once-great chain could fall so badly.

Quote from: bandit957 on December 13, 2024, 10:07:01 PMAlso, the whole chain has gone downhill since they were taken over by some private equity firm about 10 years ago.

Oh.  Never mind.

TheStranger

Chris Sampang

vdeane

Quote from: wanderer2575 on December 14, 2024, 11:36:47 AMI can't imagine how a once-great chain could fall so badly.

Quote from: bandit957 on December 13, 2024, 10:07:01 PMAlso, the whole chain has gone downhill since they were taken over by some private equity firm about 10 years ago.

Oh.  Never mind.
It should be illegal for private equity firms to own businesses.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

hbelkins

Quote from: Rothman on December 14, 2024, 11:24:49 AMIs Frisch's actually shrinking?  Not sure if its decline is as dramatic as other dying chains.  Seems to be holding on in KY well enough.

Several closed last week in Kentucky (Lexington and Winchester, along with others in northern Kentucky) as their buildings were owned by the creditor. Other locations now owned by the landlord creditor, such as London, remained open and seem to be in good shape.
Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

GaryV

Quote from: vdeane on December 14, 2024, 04:57:27 PMIt should be illegal for private equity firms to own businesses.

Then what would they own? That's their business model. To own companies and hopefully make money at it.


SEWIGuy

Quote from: GaryV on December 16, 2024, 04:34:45 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 14, 2024, 04:57:27 PMIt should be illegal for private equity firms to own businesses.

Then what would they own? That's their business model. To own companies and hopefully make money at it.

I completely get why people don't like private equity in general. Generally they buy things and rip them apart, or reduce costs to an extent that it becomes crap, but that's pretty much what the free market is for. If Big Boy sucks because of private equity, go eat elsewhere.

Rothman

Quote from: GaryV on December 16, 2024, 04:34:45 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 14, 2024, 04:57:27 PMIt should be illegal for private equity firms to own businesses.

Then what would they own? That's their business model. To own companies and hopefully make money at it.




Not very much different than organized crime.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

SEWIGuy

Quote from: Rothman on December 16, 2024, 06:33:38 PM
Quote from: GaryV on December 16, 2024, 04:34:45 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 14, 2024, 04:57:27 PMIt should be illegal for private equity firms to own businesses.

Then what would they own? That's their business model. To own companies and hopefully make money at it.




Not very much different than organized crime.


Of course its different. Completely so.  They legally buy assets and run them the way they want.  No threats, no muscle, nothing illegal.

Rothman

Quote from: SEWIGuy on December 16, 2024, 07:40:26 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 16, 2024, 06:33:38 PM
Quote from: GaryV on December 16, 2024, 04:34:45 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 14, 2024, 04:57:27 PMIt should be illegal for private equity firms to own businesses.

Then what would they own? That's their business model. To own companies and hopefully make money at it.




Not very much different than organized crime.


Of course its different. Completely so.  They legally buy assets and run them the way they want.  No threats, no muscle, nothing illegal.

Who's being naive, Kay?
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

formulanone

Quote from: 1995hoo on December 14, 2024, 11:28:08 AM
Quote from: bandit957 on December 14, 2024, 10:24:31 AMI remember seeing Shoney's Big Boy when we visited Tennessee or Georgia. But then Shoney's expanded up around here, and they had to drop their Big Boy because it infringed on Frisch's territory.

There was also Elby's Big Boy in eastern Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. I think there was an Azar's Big Boy in parts of Indiana.

This thread prompted me to look up "Big Boy Restaurants" on Wikipedia. Quite the convoluted explanation. I largely skimmed the article because it was more detail than I was seeking, but it explains the system as sort of a "chain of chains."

Wow, that's a rabbit hole of Big Boy information. I figured it was like three different restaurants, but nope...like 57 more of them, a bunch of owners, and 200 semi-not-quite-affiliated stores in Japan.

SEWIGuy

Quote from: Rothman on December 16, 2024, 07:50:47 PM
Quote from: SEWIGuy on December 16, 2024, 07:40:26 PM
Quote from: Rothman on December 16, 2024, 06:33:38 PM
Quote from: GaryV on December 16, 2024, 04:34:45 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 14, 2024, 04:57:27 PMIt should be illegal for private equity firms to own businesses.

Then what would they own? That's their business model. To own companies and hopefully make money at it.




Not very much different than organized crime.


Of course its different. Completely so.  They legally buy assets and run them the way they want.  No threats, no muscle, nothing illegal.

Who's being naive, Kay?

So in other words, you have no counter-argument.

TheStranger

Chris Sampang

Scott5114

uncontrollable freak sardine salad chef



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