Nearly nine decades since its founding, this legendary restaurant chain has become famous across the country for its diner-style comfort food and has become a part of many generations’ childhoods. But now it faces new challenges with an ongoing legal battle that could have just finished the legacy in these key areas.
Just seven months after opening the first two locations, Big Boy Restaurant Group LLC on October 23rd. is closing all six Dolly’s Burgers & Shakes restaurants in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.
“After careful evaluation, Big Boy Restaurant Group has determined that continuing to operate under these conditions is not sustainable or beneficial to its employees or its brand,” Big Boy Restaurant Group said in a press release.
Earlier this year, Big Boy Restaurant Group began repossessing the leases at several Frisch’s Big Boy locations after their landlords failed to pay more than $4.5 million. USD rents, so was evicted several times. Due to financial difficulties, Frisch’s now has just over 30 restaurants, well below the 80 locations it had in 2024.
The company planned to rebrand these sites under the Big Boy name, establishing a presence in Southwest Ohio. However, Frisch’s filed suit, claiming regional use of the Big Boy Restaurant Group name infringes on its trademark rights in Indiana, Kentucky and parts of Ohio and Tennessee.
The court issued a temporary restraining order barring Big Boy Restaurant Group from using the name in Southwest Ohio. That prompted the company to rename all six new locations Dolly’s Burgers & Shakes, named after Big Boy’s mascot girl.
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7706 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
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9830 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45251
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5202 Delhi Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45238
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8181 North Springboro Pike, Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
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9070 Plainfield Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236
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20 Troy Town Dr, Troy, Ohio 45373
Big Boy Restaurant Group had ambitious plans to open more than 50 restaurants in the area before a legal dispute halted expansion. Despite the closure, the company expressed optimism about a future comeback.
“While Big Boy Restaurant Group is currently withdrawing from the Southwest Ohio market, the company remains hopeful that once this matter is resolved, it will be able to return and reopen its doors under the Big Boy name,” Big Boy Restaurant Group said in a statement.
The story of Big Boy began in 1936 when founder Bob Wiam purchased a hamburger stand in California and named it Bob’s Pantry. The restaurant was renamed Bob’s Big Boy after a loyal customer who was an animator at a movie studio drew the now-famous Big Boy mascot on a napkin, according to its website.