Big Boy is a Michigan Boy

Posted on by farlane
Big Boy Restaurant in Manistique MI by John Gagnon

Big Boy Restaurant in Manistique MI by John Gagnon

Although Bob’s Pantry first opened its doors in Glendale, California in 1936, you can be forgiven if you think of Big Boy as an authentically Michigan restaurant. After all, it was way back in 1952 when brothers John, Louis & Fred Elias received the very first Big Boy® franchise license for the former Dixie Drive-In in Hazel Park, Michigan. By 1964, the Elias Brothers had opened 100 restaurants bearing the Elias Brothers Big Boy name throughout Michigan and Ohio with over 170 restaurants at their peak. They purchased the Big Boy chain in 1987, moving moved the headquarters to Warren where it operated until bankruptcy in 2000. According to the map on the Big Boy website, there’s about 40 locations remaining in Michigan.

John took this photo of one of the two remaining Upper Peninsula Big Boys in Manistique a couple weeks ago (the other is in Marquette). See more in his Retro gallery & follow him on Flickr for the latest!

PS: It’s a perfect time to read about the Big Boy Graveyard!

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Weird Wednesday: Return to the Big Boy Graveyard

Posted on by farlane

Big Boy Graveyard by Charles Peace

One of the weirdest & most popular posts on Michigan in Pictures is the Big Boy Graveyard. The UP Supply Co. went to the mysterious Big Boy Graveyard & shares:

Many of you have read my previous post of the old post regarding the “Legend of the Big Boy Graveyard”. Since, it has been one of our most popular journal entries, resulting in a lot of search traffic and people trying to find the statues. But we won’t be giving out any locations here.

…I feel that what used to be called the “Big Boy Graveyard” can no longer be dubbed as such. As the previous photos showed there was a third Big Boy lying on the ground with a hamburger alongside it. It was more of a dump site.

Now however, it is less of a graveyard and more of an entrance to a chained off driveway to the dump site. Rather than lion guardians to the driveway, they’re old, deteriorating Big Boy statues. They don’t quite fend you off as much as the lions. But I think most people would agree there’s still a bit of creepiness (and delight?) when seeing this great Michigan icon out of context.

Head over to the UP Supply Co for photos & more!

Charles received his BFA in Photography from Northern Michigan University but I haven’t been able to find his current work.

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Breakfast with Big Boy

Posted on by farlane

Big Boy

Big Boy, photo by Mark Houston Photography

The Big Boy entry on Wikipedia says that Elias Brothers Big Boy franchise was founded by Fred, John and Louis Elias and covered Michigan, Northeastern Ohio, Ontario, Canada from 1952–2000:

In 1938 the brothers opened Fred’s Chili Bowl in Detroit and later the Dixie Drive-In in Hazel Park, which would become the first Elias Brothers Big Boy. Considered the “first official franchisee” because they were the first to formally apply to Bob Wian. They worked with Wian, Schoenbaum and Manfred Bernhard to create the iconic 1956 Big Boy character design and launch the comic book. Owned the Big Boy parent from 1987 through 2000. Many units continue operations but none use Elias Brothers name. Fred Elias became an original member of the Big Boy Board of Directors.

One of the all-time most popular posts on Michigan in Pictures is the Big Boy Graveyard, so you might want to check that out too.

Check Mark’s photo out bigger and see more in his slideshow. Mark also operates the awesome website 360Michigan that features panoramic photos of Michigan. He’s got the Belle Isle Aquarium on the front page and a whole lot more in his Michigan section.