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Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.
Frisch's Big Boy
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurant, Casual dining, Drive-thru
Founded1939 in Cincinnati, Ohio
1946 (Serving Big Boys)
1947 (Joined Big Boy)
2001 (Left Big Boy)
2015 (Bought by NRD Capital)
FounderDavid Frisch[1]
HeadquartersCincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Key people
  • Don Short and Cheryl White
      (Unknown leader positions, 2024)
  • James Walker
      (CEO, 2022– July 2024)
  • Tony Vasconcellos,
      (President)[2]
  • Craig F. Maier,
      (President & CEO, 1989–2015)
  • Karen F. Maier,
      (V.P.: Marketing, 1983–2015)
  • Jack C. Maier,
      (President & Chair, 1970–89)
Products
  • Big Boy hamburger
  • Brawny Lad sandwich
  • Buddie Boy sandwich
  • Hot Fudge Cake
  • Swiss Miss sandwich
BrandsBig Boy (Kentucky, Indiana, and most of Ohio and Tennessee)
Number of employees
6955[3] (2017)
Websitefrischs.com

Frisch's Restaurants, Inc., doing business as Frisch's Big Boy, is a regional Big Boy restaurant chain with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. For many years a Big Boy franchisee, in 2001, Frisch's became the exclusive owner of the Big Boy trademark in Indiana, Kentucky, and most of Ohio and Tennessee, and is no longer affiliated with Big Boy Restaurant Group. As of November 2024, the company operates locations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.[4][5][6] This included multiple Big Boy stores in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.[4] Frisch's is the oldest, longest surviving, and largest regional Big Boy operator, excluding Bob's Big Boy in California, which was the original Big Boy restaurant and franchiser. The last new Frisch's opened in the Northern Kentucky International Airport in 2023. In 2015, Frisch's entered a sale and leaseback agreement of company owned locations. When Frisch's was unable make full lease payments in 2024, the company was evicted from most stores. Leadership of Frisch's passed from founder David Frisch to his son-in-law and finally his grandson, until 2015, when the company was sold to Atlanta-based NRD Capital, an equity fund which focuses on restaurant development. Frisch's also previously owned numerous Golden Corral restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia but after closing six under-performing stores in 2011, Frisch's sold the remainder in March 2012. In November 2024, after a series of evictions that led to closures of dozens of locations, a group of senior managers purchased all remaining locations and company branding rights.[7][8]

History

[edit]

Before Big Boy

[edit]

In 1905, Samuel Frisch opened the Frisch Cafe in Cincinnati, Ohio. Five years later he closed the café and moved to the Norwood suburb of Cincinnati soon opening another café there. Success brought a new building in 1915 for the restaurant then known as Frisch's Stag Lunch. When the elder Frisch died in 1923, three of his sons, David, Reuben and Irving, continued operating the cafe; twenty-year-old Dave took his father's lead role.[9]

In 1932, Dave Frisch sold his interest in Stag Lunch and opened his own Frisch's Café. Frisch's Café was a success and in 1938 a second location opened, this one across from the Stag Lunch in Norwood. However, Frisch couldn't meet expenses of the Norwood restaurant and facing bankruptcy, both cafés closed in 1938. Fred Cornuelle, a local businessman counseled Frisch and provided money for a new restaurant. In 1939 the Mainliner opened on Wooster Pike in Fairfax, Ohio. Cincinnati's first year-round drive-in restaurant, it was named after a passenger airplane that flew into nearby Lunken Airport. By 1944 a second Frisch's restaurant opened, designed to resemble George Washington's Mount Vernon home.[9]

Becoming a Big Boy franchise

[edit]

Immediately after World War II, Dave Frisch visited one of Bob Wian's Big Boy restaurants in California. Although he was unable to meet Wian, Frisch was impressed with the double-deck Big Boy hamburger and recognized the efficiency of two thinner beef patties cooking faster than a single thicker patty.

Unknown to Dave Frisch, Bob Wian was disturbed by drive-in operators outside California using the Big Boy name and hamburger without permission. To maintain national trademark protection, Wian needed his Big Boy restaurants to operate in other regions of the U.S. When the two men later met, Wian offered Frisch a sweetheart deal of $1 per year for a four-state territory. The territory included the Cincinnati tri-state region of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and added Florida to increase Big Boy's national span. Frisch accepted and became the first Big Boy franchisee.

Being the first franchisee, an ad hoc arrangement allowed Dave Frisch unique freedoms. His double-deck Big Boy hamburger was slightly different than Wian's. Dave Frisch also created his own Big Boy character: a thinner boy with reddish or blond hair, wearing striped rather than checkered overalls, presented in a running or skipping pose. Known as the East Coast Big Boy, this mark represented Frisch's and its licensees Manners and Azar's through 1969. Most Frisch's Big Boy restaurants still display statues from this design, albeit usually repainted with brown hair and checkered overalls. In 2017 a redesigned statue resembling the West Coast Big Boy was introduced.

Dave Frisch began selling Big Boy hamburgers in 1946 at Frisch's Mainliner Drive-In. After forging a licensing agreement with Bob Wian in 1947, the first Frisch's Big Boy Drive-In restaurant, Big Boy One, opened on Central Parkway north of downtown Cincinnati.[10]

"East Coast" Big Boy statue used by Frisch's
An "East Coast" Big Boy statue exclusive to many Frisch's restaurants.
"West Coast" Big Boy statue used by some Frisch's
"West Coast" Big Boy statues are displayed at some Frisch's restaurants.
"East Coast" and "West Coast" Big Boy statues
A revamped statue with a West Coast style will gradually replace existing models.

Expansion and peak (1949-1988)

[edit]

David Frisch opened three more Big Boy Drive–In Restaurants in 1949[11] – including the first in Kentucky – and opened his fifth drive–in the following year.[12][note 1] By 1954 Frisch's operated 20 units in Greater Cincinnati and was subfranchising Big Boys elsewhere.[11] In 1953 and 1954 Frisch's subfranchised Azar's Big Boy in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and Manners Big Boy in the Cleveland, Ohio TV market. In 1955, Frisch's subfranchised northwest Ohio to Toledo brothers Milton and David Bennett, to operate under the Frisch's Big Boy name.[13] By the fall of 1961 upwards of 150 drive–ins were in service by Frisch's and its franchisees.[12]

Around 1956, Frisch's opened 2 locations in Louisville. None of these locations remain today. One was close to the Dixie Drive In (now a Mazda/VW dealership), the other in Saint Matthews (now a Mike's Car Wash). The next year, they opened one near Rubbertown, (now a mobile home park) and in 1958, one opened near Jeffersontown (now a family center).[14]

In 1960, 1966 and 1969 Frisch's licensed three Elby's Big Boys in the upper Ohio Valley area of Ohio.[note 2][17][15][16] After the death of Dave Frisch, a fourth Ohio Elby's Big Boy prepared to open in 1971,[18] but Frisch's unexpectedly demanded much higher fees for the unit. In response, Elby's cancelled all ties to Frisch's and operated independently of Big Boy in Ohio, including in direct competition to Frisch's in the Columbus market. Protracted litigation followed as Frisch's sued Elby's [19] and eventually Shoney's for operating non-Big Boy restaurants in Frisch's Big Boy territory, while operating Big Boys in neighboring states.[20][21] Overall, the lawsuits were unsuccessful and both Elby's and Shoney's dropped Big Boy affiliation completely in 1984.[22]


Frisch's faced competition from numerous restaurants, both national and local. The Cincinnati McDonald's restaurants introduced the Filet-O-Fish in 1963 in an aggressive campaign against Frisch's.

David Frisch died in 1970, and his son-in law, Jack C. Maier was elected president and chairman of the board. When Maier retired in 1989, his son Craig F. Maier became president and CEO.[23] In 1972, Frisch's purchased Kip's Big Boy which covered Texas, Oklahoma and areas of Kansas. In 1988, in exchange for allowing Elias Brothers to operate (former Elby's and Manner's) Big Boys in Ohio, Frisch's received Big Boy rights in parts of Tennessee and Georgia.

In 1983, Frisch's introduced drive-thru service at many restaurants, although carhops were retained at a few Cincinnati locations. It added the soup and salad bar as well, as well as many other Big Boy chains.

Influence on other franchisees

[edit]

Larry Hatch, founder of Eat'n Park Restaurants in Pittsburgh, observed the Frisch's drive-in operation in 1948 in Cincinnati. Hatch was very impressed and quickly contacted Bob Wian about opening a Big Boy drive-in in Pittsburgh; Eat'n Park opened in 1949 as the second Big Boy franchisee.[24] Eat'n Park chose not to renew its Big Boy franchise agreement in 1975.

Alex Schoenbaum, founder of Shoney's (originally known as Parkette Drive-In) became close friends with Dave Frisch. Frisch prompted Schoenbaum to become the Big Boy franchisee for West Virginia and introduced him to Bob Wian.[25] The original artwork for the Parkette used the Frisch "East Coast" Big Boy character,[25] and print advertisements for Parkette would switch off, using both designs through 1954. Shoney's eventually grew into Frisch's territorial boundaries causing Shoney's to drop Big Boy affiliation in 1984.[26]

Both Eat'n Park and Shoney's, early Big Boy franchisees, continue in operation today.

Frisch's created the "Brawny Lad" and "Swiss Miss" sandwiches[note 3] which were added to the menus of most other Big Boy franchisees. The chopped sirloin sandwiches are distinctive for being served on rye buns. Frisch's "Filet de Sole" fish sandwich was also widely adopted by other Big Boy franchises. Where Bob Wian called a sandwich with french fries and salad item a "combination plate", Frisch's began calling it a "platter" such as a Big Boy Platter, followed by several other Big Boy chains.[note 4]

Remodeling and separation from Big Boy (1991-2003)

[edit]

Frisch's ended Kip's operations in 1991, and sold that territory as well as Georgia and Florida to Big Boy Restaurants International in 2001. They also remodeled, demolished, or completely rebuilt older units by 2000.

In 2000, Frisch's had the opportunity to purchase the national Big Boy chain, which was in bankruptcy, but declined the offer. Instead Robert Liggett purchased the national chain. Early the following year, Liggett's operation, renamed Big Boy Restaurants International made a deal with Frisch's, paying $1.2 million for Frisch's territories in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, and granting Frisch's perpetual ownership of the Big Boy mark in remaining territories. The bankruptcy threatened Frisch's right to operate and franchise Big Boy restaurants but was forever resolved by the separation.[30] The separation also relieved tensions for Big Boy, who charged other franchisees royalties and licensing fees that Frisch's was exempt from. Frisch's franchise agreement with Bob Wian, which had no expiration, required a trivial $1 per year licensing fee.[31]

Coke and Pepsi (2013-2015)

[edit]

Frisch's was known for its "cherry" and "vanilla" Coke but switched to Pepsi products in December 2013. Frisch's cited a better deal from Pepsi, and deemed taste tests adding the same vanilla and cherry flavorings to fountain Pepsi acceptable. However, the change stirred numerous protests at Frisch's Facebook page from customers unhappy with the loss of Coke.[32] Frisch's noted that Toledo area franchised stores have served Pepsi for "a number of years".[33] Big Boy Restaurants International previously switched from Coke to Pepsi in 2001, similarly citing a "great, interesting proposal" by Pepsi.[34] Frisch's new owners were aware of the controversy,[35] and in June 2018, CEO Jason Vaughn announced that Coca-Cola was returning to Frisch's Big Boy restaurants by September.[36][37] Coca-Cola reappeared at Frisch's Mainliner restaurant on July 27, 2018, with other stores very shortly after. All stores now carry Coke products.[38] Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart was on hand to pour the first Coke at 11 am.[39]

Sale of Frisch's Restaurants (2015-2019)

[edit]

On August 24, 2015, Frisch's was sold to an Atlanta-based private equity fund. The new owner, an affiliate of National Restaurant Development (NRD) Partners,[note 5] paid approximately $175 million to purchase outstanding shares of Frisch's stock.

The sale ended family operation and ownership of the Frisch's restaurant chain. Craig Maier, CEO and his sister Karen Maier, vice president of marketing, grandchildren of founder David Frisch, retired from the company. However, both remain active as franchisees, operating individual Frisch's Big Boy Restaurants.[note 6] Other family members were not involved or were too young and expressed no interest in continuing the greater Frisch's legacy.[44][45]

On September 4, 2015, Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. ceased to be a listed, publicly traded company. Aziz Hashim, CEO of NRD Partners, assumed Craig Maier's position as Frisch's president. In April 2016, Jason Vaughn was hired as CEO.

This was not the first dealing between the two organizations. In 2012, Frisch's tentatively sold its 29 remaining Golden Corral restaurants to NRD Holdings, the parent of NRD Partners.[46][47] Golden Corral blocked the sale and repurchased the units instead.[48]

NRD Partners planned to expand Frisch's presence in existing and smaller markets—including expanding statewide in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio outside of Greater Cleveland (which is served by Big Boy Restaurants International) while enjoying its Big Boy rights in Tennessee by expanding into that state, including Nashville.[note 7][49][50][51]

Absent since closing its last downtown Cincinnati restaurant in 2004, Frisch's returned in June 2018, opening a Big Boy restaurant on the ground floor of the Carew Tower. It closed in 2020.[52][53]

New mascot

[edit]

In March 2017, Frisch's unveiled a restyled statue. The new statue resembles the original West Coast design with black pompadour hair and Big Boy hamburger hoisted atop one arm. The checkered outfit, however, is replaced with striped overalls including slingshot as used on the original East Coast Big Boy. Now displaying a healthy torso, the Big Boy's black and white saddle shoes are replaced with cap toed sneakers.[54][55] The debut statue (wearing a Cincinnati Reds uniform) is placed at the Great American Ball Park; another in the Dry Ridge KY location.[56] Frisch's will then swap the new statues for existing restaurant statues in need of repair.[55]

Cincinnati Reds

[edit]

For several decades, Frisch's has had a business relationship with the Cincinnati Reds baseball organization. From 1983 to 1998, Frisch's was a part owner of the ball club as a silent partner to majority owner Marge Schott,[57] including during the team's World Series win in 1990.

Two Frisch's Big Boy concession stands opened in 2013 at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park.[58][59] An East Coast Big Boy statue repainted with a Cincinnati Reds uniform was placed near one stand, and in March 2017, the first of the redesigned Frisch's statues, likewise in Reds uniform, was added.[56]

Closures and COVID-19 impact (2020-present)

[edit]

Frisch's was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and closed 7 locations when it hit, and limited operations at 7 others. 2 locations closed in Louisville, the Carew Tower location, and others in small Ohio towns. The ones temporary limiting operations were all in Ohio.[60] Frisch's also opened the Big Boy's market for essential goods in most locations during the pandemic.[61]

However, for the legacy Big Boy chain, the situation got worse. Frisch's, after hiring a new CEO in 2022, began closing stores en masse in 2023, pointing to the economy and inflation as reasons.[62] In a dire attempt to save the company, Frisch's has begun to refranchise locations, or transforming stores owned by Frisch's to franchised stores.[63] Despite saying they would, Frisch's failed to expand in Tennessee.

Three locations were shuttered in April, 2024, marking 1/3 of Frisch's restaurants shut down in only 9 years.[64] 4 days later, Frisch's shut down the downtown Covington location.

By April 8, 2024, Aziz Hashem, managing partner of NRD Capital, said that the closures were because of rent expiration and financial losses. Additionally, he confirmed a 5th location would close, which was in Beavercreek, Ohio.[65]

2024 evictions

[edit]

As of November 12, 2024, an additional 20 Ohio and Kentucky Frisch's locations were closed or set for closure, with all being evicted by their landlord due to not paying rent.[66][67][68]

In November 2024, local Cincinnati news reported that University of Cincinnati Real Estate Center puts part of the blame for the closures and evictions on NRD's sale-lease back of its real estate.[69] [70] Four months after NRD purchased the company in 2015, it sold 74 of the company’s 121 owned stores for $74 million and leased them back and said the company can't adjust to "annual rent increases that make it harder for companies to adapt to rising food, energy and labor costs."[71]

On December 1, 2024, Cincinnati area news reported that five additional locations were facing eviction action with court hearings "later this month", including the first location to carry the name Frisch's, the Frisch's Mainliner, which opened in 1939 in Fairfax, Ohio.[72][73]

As of December 4, at least a dozen Frisch’s Big Boy restaurants in Kentucky, including both locations in Lexington, have been ordered to close. According to a letter obtained by the Lexington Herald-Leader, Frisch’s landlord, NNN Reit, sent a notice on Nov. 25 ordering the Lexington stores — at 1849 Alysheba Way and 1927 Harrodsburg Road — to vacate the buildings.[74] Additionally, Lawrenceburg Indiana Store has also received an eviction notice.[75]

2024 acquisition

[edit]

On November 18th, 2024, a group of managers led by Don Short and Cheryl White acquired several Frisch's locations and Frisch's brand rights.[76]

Frisch's Big Boy hamburger

[edit]
Frisch's Big Boy hamburger and other versions
An illustration showing how Big Boy hamburgers are assembled. The original version developed by Bob Wian (left) has mayonnaise and red relish (a combination of pickle relish, ketchup and chili sauce). Frisch's version (right) replaces them with tartar sauce and dill pickles, and applies them in a different order. The worldwide Big Boy system version (center) instead uses a thousand island-type dressing advertised as "Big Boy special sauce".

The Big Boy served at Frisch's is slightly different than those at other Big Boy restaurants. Where Bob Wian dressed Big Boy hamburgers with mayonnaise and red relish, Frisch later replaced these with tartar sauce and added dill pickles in his version and applied these in a different order. (Early Frisch's menus show that he used tartar sauce on hamburgers and cheeseburgers, but mayonnaise on his Big Boy hamburgers.[note 8][77][78][79]) Frisch's licensee Manners Big Boy used a different tartar sauce called "white sauce" and placed the pickles above the top patty.[80] The use of tartar sauce on Frisch's Big Boy hamburgers wasn't simply a matter of taste. Frisch recognized the use of a single combined condiment was simpler and faster. Later the Big Boy system adopted the idea, using the combined form of red relish and mayonnaise, commonly known as thousand island dressing, on Big Boy hamburgers.[note 9]

Commercials and slogans

[edit]

In earlier years, Frisch's adaptation of the Big Boy caricature was slimmer, had blond hair topped with a cook's cap, cartoon-like eyes, slightly cherubic facial features, and wore striped pants instead of the traditional checkered bib overall-type pants used by Bob's Big Boy. In the late 1960s both characters were redrawn incorporating common elements such as checkered pants and brown hair. This Frisch's Big Boy graphic was drawn with the pompadour and lost the cook's cap but otherwise the facial features remain the same as in the 1950s. This allowed Frisch's existing fiberglass statues to continue in use, with hair and overalls repainted. It is the typical statue displayed at Frisch's today, though several units use the West Coast Bob's Big Boy statue. In 2016 and 2017 a new design and statue were introduced.

Through the 1970s, Frisch's personalized the Big Boy slogan, "Frisch's Has So Much More" similarly adapting it for the Frisch's owned, Kip's Big Boy restaurant chain in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

In the mid-1980s, Marriott planned to retire the Big Boy character. As a publicity scheme, Marriott launched a "Should Big Boy Stay or Go?" campaign, asking customers at Frisch's and other Big Boy franchises to vote on whether or not the Big Boy should continue to be used for the trademark. Customers overwhelmingly voted that Big Boy should stay.

Slogan's used by Frisch's included, but were not limited to:

  • "Frisch's Has So Much More" (1970s; Big Boy chain slogan)
  • "Gotta be Frisch's Big Boy! Oh what a value!" (early 1980s)
  • "For me!" (early 1980s)
  • "Nobody takes care of you like Big Boy"[82] (1980s; Big Boy chain slogan)
  • "America loves its Big Boy" (1988-1989; Big Boy chain slogan)
  • "Frisch's starts with better stuff" (1990s)
  • "What's Your Favorite Thing?"® (1998-2016)
  • "Good Fun. Great Food. Friendly Faces." (Mid 2010s)
  • "Fresh and Fun." (Used on renovated restaurant signs.)
  • "Home of Burgers, Breakfast, & Big Boy." (2019- current)

A classic Frisch's jingle]used on both Radio & TV in the 1960s went:[83]

Stop and enjoy a big Big Boy,
a double-deck hamburger treat,
A national favorite, coast to coast,
So stop and enjoy a big Big Boy.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The Mainliner and Mt. Vernon restaurants – locations predating Big Boy – offered drive–in service but are not included in the number of drive–ins. This explains seeming inconsistencies of six locations in 1949[11] but five in 1950.[12] From 1948 through the early 1960s the new units were primarily drive–in restaurants.
  2. ^ 1960: Morristown, Ohio; 1966: St. Clairsville, Ohio; 1969: Steubenville, Ohio. After a fire,[15][16] the Morristown store closed in 1965 and was replaced by the St. Clairsville restaurant, which is often referred to as the first Ohio Elby's. Unlike Frisch's subfranchises of Manners and Azar's, (and Elby's own subfranchise from Shoney's in West Virginia,) Frisch's did not grant Elby's territory, but licensed locations completely on an individual basis.
  3. ^ Frisch's added both sandwiches later than the Big Boy hamburger. The Brawny Lad was introduced by 1954[27] and the Swiss Miss in 1970.[28][29]
  4. ^ The salad item used by Bob Wian was a heart of lettuce salad, while Frisch's used cole slaw.
  5. ^ National Restaurant Development
         NRD Holdings – founded by Aziz Hashim – are owners-operators of multi-unit franchised (primarily) fast food brands.[40]
         NRD Partners, also known as NRD Capital – a subsidiary of NRD Holdings – is an equity fund of Hashim and other multi-unit food franchisees focusing on franchisors.[41] The fund acts by either achieving a controlling interest in a franchisor or outright acquisition of a franchisor, applying NRD's expertise to improve both franchisees' and franchisor's function and value, and finally receiving return by selling individual NRD owned stores to motivated employees, selling NRD's interest outright or taking the brand public.[42][43]
  6. ^ In 2019, Craig Maier closed his franchised Frisch's Restaurant in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Cincinnati. (The unit is actually in Green Township.)[5]
  7. ^ Frisch's Big Boy rights in Tennessee exclude a 19 county region centered about Knoxville, viz., Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cooke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union counties.
    Frisch's Big Boy rights in Ohio exclude a 7 county region about Cleveland, viz., Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga and Lake counties [49]
  8. ^ An early undated Frisch's menu says "Big Boy Hamburger, 45¢, ... with Shredded Lettuce, Mayonnaise, Melted Cheese, Topped with Pickle". It also offers a "Regular Hamburger" and "Regular Cheeseburger", "with Lettuce and Tartar Sauce".[77]
  9. ^ Wian's red relish was a combination of sweet pickle relish, ketchup and chili sauce.[81]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Big Boy lookalike event to celebrate Founder's Day". Fox19 Now. Retrieved October 8, 2016. On Thursday, Frisch's Big Boy will be celebrating the birthday of its founder, David Frisch, by hosting a Big Boy lookalike event.
         "Frisch's Founder's Day: Dress like Big Boy, get a Big Boy free!". May 3, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2016 – via Facebook. May 3 marks the second annual Frisch's Founder's Day and we want to celebrate Dave Frisch's birthday with you!
  2. ^ Brownfield, Andy (July 26, 2021). "Frisch's CEO exits as company undergoes reorganization". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  3. ^ Monk, Dan (June 15, 2017). "Frisch's Big Boy to open Downtown store, ramp up expansion plans". WCPO (Channel 9). Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Find a Frisch's Big Boy near you". Frisch's Big Boy. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Key, Jennie (June 25, 2019). "A Green Township Frisch's closes its doors". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  6. ^ Alley, Megan (June 25, 2019). "New Richmond Frisch's Big Boy Restaurant will close its doors on June 27". The Clermont Sun. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  7. ^ Coolidge, Alexander (19 November 2024). "Ohio managers buy out several Frisch's Big Boys, company brand". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  8. ^ Fantozzi, Joanna (21 November 2024). "Frisch's senior management acquires remaining Big Boy locations". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b "History of Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.". International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 35. St. James Press. 2001. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  10. ^ "Our Story: History". Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "Frisch's Big Boy Makes Debut at New Drive In". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. December 27, 1954. p. 12. Retrieved November 18, 2017 – via newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ a b c "Frisch Restaurant Story ... Success". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 7, 1961. p. 11. Retrieved November 18, 2017 – via newspapers.com. Free access icon
  13. ^ "Frisch's Big Boy Celebrates Founder's Day May 3". [Official] Frisch's Big Boy of Northwest Ohio. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2013. Toledo brothers Milton & David Bennett purchased the franchise rights to build and operate Frisch's Big Boy restaurants in Northwest Ohio. Bennett Enterprises owns and operates 13 family-style restaurants with drive—thru service under the name Frisch's Big Boy.
  14. ^ "Telephone directory, Louisville, Ky. - - 1957". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  15. ^ a b "Fire Guts Restaurant". Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian. October 4, 1965. Retrieved September 7, 2016 – via newspaperarchive.com.Free access icon
  16. ^ a b "Twice told tales". Barnesville Enterprise. Barnesville, Ohio. October 6, 2015. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2016. Fifty Years Ago – 1965 ... A fire that started in the kitchen of the Elby's Restaurant west of Morristown caused over $100,000 in damages.
  17. ^ "and ... NOW THERE ARE 3 Elby's [advertisement]". Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian. March 28, 1960. p. 7. Retrieved July 30, 2016 – via newspaperarchive.com.Free access icon
  18. ^ "Advertisement: Grand opening our 16th special". Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian. January 11, 1971. p. 9. Retrieved September 7, 2016 – via newspaperarchive.com.Free access icon
  19. ^ "Narcotics Evidence Is Found Illegal". Cumberland Evening Times. August 1, 1973. p. 27. Retrieved September 7, 2016 – via newspaperarchive.com.Free access icon
  20. ^ Frisch's Restaurant, Inc. v. Elby's Big Boy, 661 F.Supp. 971 (S.D. Ohio, E.D. 1987).
  21. ^ "Frisch's loses appeal to stop Shoney's plans". Daily News. Bowling Green, Ky. April 28, 1985. pp. 10B. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  22. ^ Leininger, Keith (December 6, 1984). "Cherubic Big Boy Caught in a Pickle". News-Sentinel. Fort Wayne. Retrieved October 22, 2017 – via NewsBank.
  23. ^ "History". Frisch's Big Boy. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  24. ^ "Obituary: William D. Peters / President of Eat'n Park restaurants". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 20, 2000. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  25. ^ a b Moore, Kara (Spring 2012). "All–American Tradition". WV Living Magazine. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015.
  26. ^ ...
    • Zuckerman, David (May 7, 1984). "Shoney's secedes from Big Boy system". Nation's Restaurant News. Penton Media. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
    • "Graph of Shoney's net income since 1974; At Shoney's, details count". The New York Times. June 8, 1984. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 29, 2016. Shoney's started expanding outside of its franchise territory in 1982 by opening coffee shops without Big Boy markings in neighboring states. A fellow Big Boy franchisee sued to stop the move, but after Shoney's won a favorable court ruling in March, Marriott quickly agreed to scrap the franchise agreement for $13 million in cash.
  27. ^ "Frisch's Anniversary [advertisement]". Hamilton Daily News Journal. July 23, 1954. p. 11. Retrieved April 29, 2017 – via NewspaperArchive.com. ... with every Big Boy, Brawny Lad Steak Sandwich or Fish Sandwich you buy, you get absolutely free, your choice of a 15c drink. Free access icon
  28. ^ "Our History". Frisch's Restaurants. 1970 ... Two new items are added to the menu: the popular Swiss Miss hamburger and Frisch's signature Hot Fudge Cake ...
  29. ^ "New Menu Features Have Been Added At Frisch's". Anderson Herald Bulletin. March 7, 1971. p. 37. Retrieved April 29, 2017 – via NewspaperArchive.com. The menu as presented has some new items that are proving popular. One of these is the "Swiss Miss" which is a steak sandwich with melted cheese. Free access icon
  30. ^ 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 [a] franchisee of the Big Boy system."' 
  31. ^ Kosdrosky, Terry (February 2001). "New Owner of Big Boy Gobbles Up Franchise Rights". Crain's Detroit Business. Vol. 17, no. 7. p. 32. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018. Frisch's no longer is a franchisee but retains the right to license Big Boy restaurants in most of Ohio and parts of Indiana and Kentucky no matter what happens to the parent company. Liggett paid Frisch's $1.2 million to give up its rights in the other states.
         'We had to consolidate before going forward,' Liggett said. 'It was a real hodge-podge of rights and operations. Some licensees paid fees; some didn't. That's not good for organized growth. We cleared that up and reached a deal with clear delineation.' 
  32. ^ "Frisch's to Switch from Coca-Cola to Pepsi, Fans React Online". River City News. Covington, Ky. December 30, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
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  45. ^ Coolidge, Alexander. "What's the future for Frisch's Big Boy?". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2015. [O]ther family members are not involved in the business and his own children are too young and expressed no interest in it.
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  49. ^ a b "Agreement Regarding Use of Trademarks". Law insider. January 16, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2016. The purpose of this Agreement is to acknowledge and confirm the scope and terms of the Intellectual Property Use and Non-Compete Agreement reached between FRISCH'S and BIG BOY on January 12, 2001 ... to enable the parties to continue operating under their respective rights in and to the BIG BOY trademark within certain defined geographic territories ...
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  60. ^ WKRC, Katherine Barrier (2020-07-20). "Frisch's permanently closing 7 Ohio, Ky. locations, limiting service at 7 others". WKRC. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
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  62. ^ "The West Price Hill Frisch's closed up shop on Sunday". The Enquirer. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
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  66. ^ David Winter (October 29, 2024). "More Frisch's slated for closure, company behind in rent for 65 locations". WKRC.
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  68. ^ "More Frisch's Big Boys shuttered this week".
  69. ^ Hamrick, Brian (13 November 2024). "'It's pretty sad': Customers react as more Frisch's Big Boy locations ordered to close". WLWT. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
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  81. ^ Searl, Laura (June 9, 1986). "Big Boy's original Bob takes it easy in Newport". Orange County Register. Santa Ana, Calif. p. D4. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via newspaperarchive.com. Wian mixed up a batch of the same pickle relish that the Rite Spot used — a combination, he said, of catsup, relish and chili sauce. He put the mayonnaise on the burger. Those ingredients, he said, make up the Big Boy special sauce recipe to this day.Free access icon
  82. ^ "Matchbook Cover - Frisch's Big Boy Hamburgers". Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017 – via eBay.
  83. ^ "Frisch's Big Boy Jingle". YouTube. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
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