The Story of Bob’s Big Boy
It all started with a dream in 1936. Bob Wian sold his beloved DeSoto Roadster for $350 and opened a small restaurant called Bob’s Pantry in Glendale, California.
Bob had spent several years working in restaurants — first as a dishwasher, then as a fry cook, and later as a manager. During that time, he learned everything he could about the business: supply, consistency, customer service, and public relations. He educated himself, saved every dollar he could, and when a tiny 10-seat hamburger stand went up for sale, he seized the opportunity. Buying it made his lifelong dream come true.
In 1937, a customer asked Bob to make something different from the usual hamburger. Playfully, Bob created a giant sandwich by slicing a bun into three sections, adding two beef patties in between, along with his special sauce and cheese. It was an instant hit — and just like that, the double-decker burger was born.
The Birth of “Big Boy”
One of Bob’s frequent customers was a cheerful six-year-old boy named Rick, who loved the burgers so much that he offered to sweep the floors in exchange for one. Bob grew fond of the enthusiastic youngster and began greeting him with, “Hello, Big Boy!”
One day, another regular customer sketched a cartoon of Rick on a napkin. That drawing inspired Bob to name his double-decker cheeseburger the Big Boy. The burger’s popularity soared, leading Bob to rename his restaurant Bob’s Big Boy.
Expansion and Franchising
Bob’s Big Boy opened officially in 1938. Its success in California quickly attracted national attention, and Bob began licensing his double-decker burger recipe to other restaurant owners across the country.
However, these franchisees could only sell the Big Boy burger — not use the “Bob’s Big Boy” restaurant name. As a result, Big Boy locations across the U.S. took on local names like Arnold’s Big Boy, Azar’s Big Boy, Elby’s Big Boy, Frisch’s Big Boy, Kipp’s Big Boy, and Shoney’s Big Boy.
In 1952, the Elias Brothers became the first official Big Boy franchisees when they opened in Hazel Park, Michigan. The Midwest embraced the concept wholeheartedly, and by 1964, they had opened 100 Big Boy restaurants across Michigan and Ohio.
Ownership Changes and the Iconic Mascot
The Marriott Corporation purchased Big Boy in 1967, before selling it to the Elias Brothers in 1987. The brothers moved the company’s headquarters to Warren, Michigan. After filing for bankruptcy in 2000, the chain changed ownership several more times.
Despite these changes, Big Boy’s most recognizable symbol has always been its mascot — the cartoon boy with a pompadour hairstyle and red-and-white checkered overalls. Inspired by young Rick, the mascot became the restaurant’s trademark. A statue of the smiling Big Boy stood proudly in front of every location.
Over time, some franchises updated the look of the mascot, giving him different hairstyles or even a baseball cap. In 1981, the burger that he carried on his tray was removed to shift attention toward the restaurant’s expanded menu.
The Menu and the Comics
Beyond the famous Big Boy burger, customers loved other favorites like the Belgian waffle topped with strawberries and whipped cream, the Slim Jim sandwich, fried chicken, onion rings, milkshakes, and homemade pie.
In 1956, Bob commissioned a comic book titled The Adventures of Big Boy to entertain children while they waited for their meals. The series featured Big Boy, his friend Dolly, and their dog Nugget on lighthearted adventures. Kids could even join the “Big Boy Club” to earn free burgers, collectible cards, and pins.
Interestingly, Stan Lee, the legendary comic book writer who later created Spider-Man and the Avengers, wrote the first five years of Big Boy comics. After 39 years and 466 issues, the series ended in 1996. It was later replaced by Big Boy Magazine, which ran for another 63 issues until 2008.
Memorabilia and Legacy
The Big Boy character became a merchandising hit. Miniature versions of the statue were turned into collectible banks, toys, and bobbleheads — many of which are now considered valuable collector’s items.
The Burbank, California location, built in 1949, remains the oldest surviving Bob’s Big Boy restaurant. Recognized as an official California historical landmark, it offers visitors a nostalgic trip back in time. On Friday nights, it hosts a popular classic car show that attracts vintage car enthusiasts from across the Los Angeles area. On weekends, they even revive the old-fashioned carhop service.
A Dream That Lives On
Dreams come in all shapes and sizes. For Bob Wian, his dream came in the form of a cheerful boy with checkered overalls and a pompadour haircut — and in the playful invention of a new kind of hamburger that would inspire countless imitators.
Although there may not be as many Big Boy restaurants around today, the legacy lives on through the memories, the flavors, and the joyful atmosphere that made it a timeless part of American culture.
