The Original Big Boy Is Blonde !?!?!?!?!
๐ Frischโs Big Boy: The Midwestโs Iconic Double-Decker Legend ๐ฅ
In 1939, Dave Frisch opened the Mainliner โ Cincinnatiโs first year-round drive-in. But it was 1946 when everything changed. At a California industry event, Frisch discovered Bob Wianโs double-decker hamburger called the Big Boy. He brought the concept home, secured one of the earliest franchises, and gave it a signature Midwest twist: swapping Thousand Island for his own tangy tartar sauce.
Two thin quarter-pound patties cook faster than one thick one โ smart engineering that delivered juicy results every time. Add American cheese, dill pickle, shredded lettuce (or deluxe toppings), and that special sauce on a triple-deck bun, and youโve got a towering classic.
Why Frischโs Stood Out
โข Their own running/skipping Big Boy mascot (slimmer, striped overalls vs. the original checkered).
โข Drive-in roots with carhops in the early days, evolving into family-friendly sit-down spots.
โข In 2001, Frischโs gained perpetual rights to the Big Boy name in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and parts of Tennessee โ making them independent of the national chain.
Still going strong with dozens of locations, Frischโs serves breakfast versions, spicy twists, and that famous Hot Fudge Cake alongside the signature burger. Itโs pure post-WWII American drive-in nostalgia with a Cincinnati soul.