Frisch's was founded in Cincinnati in 1923. Dave Frisch arranged a franchise with Bob Wian around 1949. Frisch's used tartar sauce rather than 1,000 Island dressing on their burgers. Frisch's bought the rights to the Big Boy name in late 2000 after the Elias Bros. bankruptcy. At the chain's peak, there were about 88 company-owned Frisch's and 26 franchise units, all using the Frisch's Big Boy name, in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Around 2020, locations began to close. Many more locations have closed since and legal battles have ensued. The remaining Frisch's restaurants, at least two in the Cincinnati area, have been or will be rebranded as "Dolly's Burgers and Shakes." Dolly was Big Boy's girlfriend and a sandwich had been named after her. The running boy statues have been or will be removed. There are currently about 21 locations left in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. For more about Frisch's, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.

Frisch's Big Boy [gone] Columbus, OH
2001:		2009:

The Columbus Frisch's location on Route 40 was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The sign was original but the building had a retro remodeling at some point. The statue appeared to be modern as well. In 2009, the restaurant closed and the building was demolished. The Walgreens which replaced the restaurant adapted the sign. The statue is gone. This photo shows a Frisch's in Columbus, IN which is most likely gone or remodeled.

Frisch's Big Boy [gone] Wilmington, OH	Frisch's Big Boy [gone] Moraine, OH	Frisch's Big Boy Hamilton, OH	Frisch's Big Boy Tampa, FL	Frisch's Big Boy [gone] Lawrenceburg, IN	Mid City Plaza Owensboro, KY

The Frisch's Big Boy in Wilmington features a similar sign to the one in Columbus, minus the neon. This photo is from 2009. By 2012, the sign pole had been painted red. In 2019, the top and middle panels were replaced. The readerboard remains. This location closed in 2024 and I assume this sign will be removed if it hasn't been already. [map] The Frisch's Big Boy sign in Moraine is another of the same style. Apparently, the top part of these signs revolved originally. This sign pole was also painted red later on. This location closed in 2023 and this sign is gone. The Frisch's Big Boy sign in Hamilton has neon and bulbs which are still lit at night. I believe this location is still open. For more, see this website. [map] This Frisch's Big Boy in Tampa opened in 1963. The original sign looked like this. Frisch's closed its Florida locations by the 1990s. This current sign was advertising for the Pine Grove Family Restaurant in 2007. It was adapted for the Forest Hills Diner by 2011 and the Frisch's building was demolished by 2014. The sign was adapted in 2015 for OK Carz. [map] The Frisch's Big Boy in Lawrenceburg is still there but this sign is gone. It was replaced when the building was remodeled. This sign was the same style as the one in New Richmond, OH which is also gone now. This Mid City Plaza sign appears to be an adapted Frisch's Big Boy sign. [map]

Frisch's Big Boy Anderson, IN

This Frisch's Big Boy opened in 1959 and is still open. It has the original building, sign and statue. The text on the pole sign was originally neon and it was painted blue-ish green. I don't know where the other sign on the storage shed at the back of the property came from. Note the statue's striped paints, curved eyebrows, and projecting slingshot. Later statues had the slingshots flush with the statue's body to prevent them from being broken off. The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati has another old statue with the striped pants. [map]

Frisch's Big Boy Richmond, IN

This Frisch's Big Boy is one of the three locations in Indiana still operating. The other two are in Anderson (see above) and Madison (modern building, statue gone). [map]

Frisch's Big Boy West Chester, OH

This Frisch's Big Boy is still operating. [map]

Frisch's Big Boy Bellevue, KY

This Frisch's Big Boy statue has been at this location since around 2012. Note that this statue does not have a slingshot and is probably more modern than the other statues shown at this page. This restaurant is still operating. [map]

Frisch's Big Boy [gone] Milford, OH

This Frisch's Big Boy features an old sign like the one in Anderson shown above. These photos are from 2009. In 2008, part of the sign was painted green. This Big Boy statue has the projecting slingshot but wears checkered pants. It might have been repainted. This location closed in 2024 and I assume this sign will be removed if it hasn't been already. For more, see this website. [map]

Frisch's Big Boy [gone] Fairfax, OH

This Frisch's Big Boy sign was built in 1956. The airplanes' propellers spin. Around 2008, the sign was repainted. It was previously green and the planes were white. In 2024, this location closed and the Big Boy statue was removed. The sign was donated to the American Sign Museum where it is on display and being restored. The "Mainliner" name on the sign is a reference to a passenger plane that operated out of Cincinnati's Lunken airfield. Frisch's Mainliner Drive-in opened here in 1939 and was the first drive-in in Cincinnati. Cincinnati's first Big Boy sandwich was sold here in 1946. The current building was built in 1988. For more, see this website.

Frisch's Big Boy [gone] Grove City, OH			Frisch's Big Boy Brooksville, FL

This relatively new Frisch's Big Boy in Grove City still featured the Big Boy statue. Note that this statue had no eyebrows. This location closed in 2024 and I assume the statue has been removed. The Frisch's Big Boy statue in Brooksville is installed on the roof of the Coney Island Drive-Inn. It was restored and installed there around 2012. It had been located at a pawn shop in town for about 25 years before that. [map]

More Frisch's Big Boys: Covington, KY [gone] Louisville, KY [vintage; gone] Bethel, OH [gone] Cincinnati, OH [gone] Cincinnati, OH: 1, 2 [gone] Hillsboro, OH [gone] Ironton, OH Lancaster, OH [map]

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Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.