If there's one restaurant that always sticks in my head from childhood road trips, it's Bob's Big Boy. That colorful, oversized mascot always meant that a hearty, sit-down meal wasn't far away. The chain might not be as big as it used to be, but it's still found in five US states - Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, North Dakota, and California - with a total of 55 locations. There's no question it's iconic, but most people might not know its Michigan roots. The mascot for Bob's Big Boy, now nearly ubiquitous in Michigan, was based on a real six-year boy who was the restaurant's first "super fan." Read on to learn more about the history of Big Boy and its iconic mascot.
The Big Boy restaurant chain got its start in 1936, when Bob Wian bought a hamburger stand in Glendale, California.
Wian called the restaurant Bob's Pantry. The following year, after an unusual customer request, Wian created the double-decker cheeseburger.
One fan, in particular, was a chubby six-year-old boy who loved the new burger invention so much, he would hang around the stand most days and offer to sweep up in exchange for one of the double burgers.
Wian was taken by the boy and his enthusiasm for the product; and, in 1937, Richard Woodruff became the inspiration for the mascot, the name of the burger, and the eventual name of the restaurant chain.
A Hollywood animator helped Wian develop the iconic logo and mascot that was molded into the famous fiberglass statues you still see today.
Bob's Pantry became Bob's Big Boy, and, starting in the 1950s, the Big Boy name and image was franchised throughout the country and, eventually, the world.
In 1952, the first Big Boy franchise was opened in Hazel Park, Michigan by the Elias Brothers.
The brothers would go on to open more than 100 Big Boy restaurants. In 1988, they bought the Big Boy chain and moved the headquarters to Warren, Michigan.
Although under different ownership, today, Big Boy is still headquartered in Michigan - now Southfield - where the vast majority of U.S. restaurants are located.
You'll still find the same delicious double-decker burgers - and the iconic logo inspired by Richard Woodruff.
We hear that Bob's Big Boy has a friend named Dolly, who is sharing mascot duties with the iconic, rosy-cheeked scamp. For more information about the chain or to find a location near you, visit the Big Boy website. Big Boy is just one of many sources of pride residents of the Great Lakes State can point to. What are some other Michigan businesses with iconic mascots? Let us know in the comments, and if you're looking to show your Michigan pride, check out the full collection of Michigan apparel at our friends at Wear Your Roots.
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