Big Boy Celebrating 88 Years With Big Plans For June

Everyone Loves and grew up with Big Boy restaurants. Big Boy Double Decker Sandwiches, Slim Jims, and endless delicious desserts.

Join Big Boy for some celebrating from June 10th to 16th for a week full of exciting offers, family fun, and special events! Plus don't miss the special event. National Big Boy Day is on June 15th, and many special events are planned at participating restaurants.

A celebration that lasts a week, June 10-16, with specials every day and the Birthday Man of the Hour, a Big Boy birthday party to honor the restaurant's impressive 90 years in business. June 15 will be " Big Boy Day", a birthday party and you will get presents.

Mark the calendar from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15 at the NEW Big Boy Arena, 34400 Utica Rd. in Fraser. At the event, the Big Boy Food Truck will offer free Big Boy burgers to the first 50 people (one per person), with $5 Big Boy and fries available with a Pepsi purchase afterward. Expect Big fun with Big Boy games, a video game truck, an inflatable obstacle course, a Big Boy foam party, open ice skating inside the Big Boy Arena, and carnival-style games to win prizes. The Birthday Boy will also be on hand to celebrate.

In 1936, Bob Wian sold his prized DeSoto Roadster to purchase a hamburger stand in Glendale, California, which he named Bob’s Pantry.

One night in 1937, a regular customer requested something different for a change. Bob went to work, sliced a bun into three slices, added two hamburger patties and the first double-decker cheeseburger was born!

Big Boy's mascot came to life when a regular customer, a movie studio animator, sketched the now-famous character on a napkin. 

On June 12, the classic Big Boy burger is 99 cents, served with fries and a pop.

If you were from Michigan, Big Boys back in the day were Elias Brothers Big Boy restaurants. Brothers John, Louis, and Fred Elias were the first to formally apply to Bob Wian for a Big Boy franchise license. Their Hazel Park, MI restaurant became the first official Big Boy® franchise.

Big Boy restaurants in Ohio were known as Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.

Bob's Big Boys has 55 locations in the United States: 51 "Big Boy" named restaurants were located in Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, and Ohio, and four additional locations in California branded as "Bob's Big Boy."

It’s a brand-new year, and plenty of great things are on the horizon! Whether it's something personal or local happenings in Metro Detroit there’s plenty to look forward to. This year, Detroit has many  places to check out, from eateries to bars and cafes.

Many of these places are expected to open this year. But it's worth mentioning that opening dates tend to change and aren’t always set in stone. It’s best to keep tabs on these new local spots through their websites or social media for updates.

Looking back at last year, we saw some awesome additions to the Detroit food scene. Alpino Detroit brought a European-influenced menu, Cibo Detroit found a home in Cambria Hotel, and Nepantla brought to the area vegan Mexican food (to name a few).

Yelp gave a shoutout to some of last year’s new restaurants in Detroit. Charminar Biryani House in downtown Detroit snagged the top spot, followed by Tonini’s Woodfired Pizzeria and Tiger Thai. These places are not just “hottest,” they're the best, according to Yelp.

Supporting a local restaurant isn’t just good for them. It's also good for you too. You're likely to feel more at home in a small local place than at a big chain. Plus, local spots serve up dishes you won't find anywhere else, from local staples to some seriously creative dishes.

Additionally, when you eat or drink at a neighborhood restaurant, you're giving back to the community. Local spots create jobs and keep the money flowing right where it's needed. As a bonus, they're usually sourcing ingredients locally. Beyond these, there are numerous additional advantages, including contributing to environmental well-being and building connections with local vendors.

If you're a foodie always on the lookout for the next delicious adventure, make sure to add these upcoming five Detroit joints to your must-try list.

Dutch Girl Donuts in Detroit is gearing up for a reopening this year with new ownership. Paddy Lynch, the owner of The Schvitz bathhouse in Detroit and the third-generation head of Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, has acquired the Woodward Avenue shop. According to multiple reports, there's a strong connection between the Lynch family and Dutch Girl's previous owners, the late Gene and Lauren Timmer. Tim Lynch, Jr., Paddy's cousin, has had a longstanding relationship with the Timmer family since childhood and managed their funeral services. A spring 2024 opening is planned for the long-standing spot with the iconic blue sign at 19000 Woodward Ave.

Prime Concepts Detroit is adding a new restaurant combo to the mix at the Grand Army of the Republic Building. They're calling it Sexy Steak, and it'll focus on steaks and seafood. Also, there's another spot in the same place called Sexy Burger, taking over from the old Parks and Rec Diner. Sexy Burger will serve up burgers, chicken, pasta, and other tasty stuff. Plus, they'll have spots for private dining and events.

The Ice Cream Detroit specializes in liquor-infused ice cream and sorbet. One of the shop’s signature flavors is a strawberry Faygo Red Pop sorbet with coconut rum. According to their Instagram, they are scheduled for spring of this year. If you can't wait, you can get a taste of their Virgin Ice Cream Bar inside Detroit Soul located at 14300 E. Jefferson.

In August, Michigan-based restaurant operators H&D Group Investments signed a deal with Shaquille O’Neal’s fast-casual chicken chain to develop 20 locations across the state, with plans to open in Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, and metro Detroit. Metro Times reports that the first location is planned for Clio, set to open in early 2024, with a second location announced to open in Highland in the spring.

The original spot in Eastern Market closed last November, Now, it’s relocating just a few blocks away to a more spacious venue. The new setup will feature a sit-down restaurant, two outdoor patios, and live entertainment. You can still visit their other two locations on Seven Mile in Detroit and on Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills. Their new location is expected to open sometime this year at 2830 Gratiot Ave.