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For many years, the image of a child with a pompadour wearing checkered overalls was a well-known symbol for fans of the Big Boy restaurant chain, representing delicious burgers, fries, and other treats. The name-brand statue is amongthe most legendary food characters throughout history, but even devoted fans may not realize that Big Boy has a sort of girlfriend. Her name is Dolly, and she comes from a comic series that was once distributed at Big Boy restaurants. For a short time, she was also the star of her own franchise:Dolly’s Burgers and Shakes.
Big Boy comics first appeared in 1956 as a means to entertain children while they waited for their meals. The initial issue was authored by the renowned comic book writer Stan Lee, although an artist named Craig Boldman, who was less well-known, worked on refining the Dolly character. Boldman referred to her as “Big Boy’s opposite,” and gave her a lively and spirited personality. According to Boldman, Dolly showed no interest in Big Boy’s actions, even though he continually tried to make an impression on her. Although Boldman stated that Big Boy and Dolly were “just friends,” he indicated that they were expected to eventually become romantic partners as they grew older.
In March 2025, Dolly’s Burgers and Shakes established two locations in Ohio within former Frisch’s Big Boys buildings. Dolly’s was largely similar to Big Boy’s, offering classicBig Boy menu itemsSuch as burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Therefore, what caused the shift in the mascot? The explanation is somewhat intricate.
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Dolly’s Burgers and Shakes didn’t have a long lifespan
The origin of the Big Boy Restaurant chainis somewhat complicated. In fact, there are two distinct companies associated with the Big Boy name: Frisch’s and the Big Boy Restaurant Group (BBRG). Frisch’s Big Boy originated from the Mainliner Restaurant, which was established by Dave Frisch in 1939. In 1946, Frisch received approval from Big Boy’s founder, Bob Wian, to offer Big Boy burgers, customizing the recipe with his own homemade tartar sauce.
Frisch’s interpretation of Big Boy became well-liked, eventually expanding to 200 locations. In 2001, Frisch’s family came to an agreement with BBRG about the Big Boy name. Frisch’s Big Boy had exclusive trademark rights in Kentucky, Indiana, and specific areas of Ohio and Tennessee. Unfortunately, the Frisch’s franchise has recently faced difficulties, leading to many restaurant shutdowns.
BBRG viewed Frisch’s failures as a chance to expand, acquiring 50 closed Frisch’s locations with plans to open its own Big Boy restaurants. However, the 2001 agreement made BBRG’s strategy legally questionable. A district judge in Ohio issued a temporary restraining order against BBRG, preventing it from using the Big Boy name. As a result, BBRG decided to open two restaurants in the state under the name Dolly’s Burgers and Shakes, referencing the franchise’s past without facing legal issues. Nevertheless, the continuous legal dispute became too difficult for BBRG to manage. All Dolly’s Burgers and Shakes locations shut down on October 23rd, 2025.
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