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Frisch's

Frisch's Big Boy
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurant, Casual dining, Drive-thru
Founded1939 in Cincinnati, Ohio
1946 (serving Big Boys)
1947 (joined Big Boy)
2001 (Left Big Boy)
2015 (Bought by NRD Capital)
FounderDavid Frisch[1]
SuccessorNRD Partners I, L.P.
HeadquartersCincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Number of locations
90 (9 franchised in Northwestern Ohio)[2]
Area served
Key people
  • James Walker
      (CEO, 2022–present)
  • Tony Vasconcellos,
      (President)[5]
  • Craig F. Maier,
      (President & CEO, 1989–2015)
  • Karen F. Maier,
      (V.P.: Marketing, 1983–2015)
  • Jack C. Maier,
      (President & Chair, 1970–89)
Products
  • Big Boy hamburger
  • Brawny Lad sandwich
  • Buddie Boy sandwich
  • Hot Fudge Cake
  • Swiss Miss sandwich
BrandsBig Boy (Kentucky, Indiana, and most of Ohio and Tennessee)
Number of employees
6955[6] (2017)
ParentNRD Partners I, L.P.
Websitefrischs.com

Frisch's Big Boy is a regional Big Boy restaurant chain with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. For many years a Big Boy franchisee, in 2001, Frisch's became the exclusive owner of the Big Boy trademark in Indiana, Kentucky, and most of Ohio and Tennessee, and is no longer affiliated with Big Boy Restaurant Group. In July 2022, there were 84 restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.[2][3][4] This included 11 Big Boy stores in Cincinnati, 6 in Dayton, Ohio, and 3 in Louisville, Kentucky.[2] Frisch's is the oldest, longest surviving, and largest regional Big Boy operator, excluding Bob's Big Boy in California, which was the original Big Boy restaurant and franchiser. (However, Frisch's is significantly larger than the original Big Boy chain, which makes up Elias Brothers, the Bismarck Big Boy, and Bob's.) As of December 2023, Frisch's is at 90 stores. The last new Frisch's opened in Dry Ridge Kentucky in 2019, therefore 8 stores reopening from COVID-19 around 2022-2023. Many stores closed afterwards, likely due to the ongoing Inflation crisis.

Leadership of Frisch's passed from founder David Frisch to his son-in-law and finally his grandson, until 2015, when the company was sold to Atlanta-based NRD Capital, an equity fund which focuses on restaurant development. Frisch's also previously owned numerous Golden Corral restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia but after closing six under-performing stores in 2011, Frisch's sold the remainder in March 2012.

  1. ^ "Big Boy lookalike event to celebrate Founder's Day". Fox19 Now. Retrieved October 8, 2016. On Thursday, Frisch's Big Boy will be celebrating the birthday of its founder, David Frisch, by hosting a Big Boy lookalike event.
         "Frisch's Founder's Day: Dress like Big Boy, get a Big Boy free!". May 3, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2016 – via Facebook. May 3 marks the second annual Frisch's Founder's Day and we want to celebrate Dave Frisch's birthday with you!
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Find a Frisch's Big Boy near you". Frisch's Big Boy. September 7, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Key, Jennie (June 25, 2019). "A Green Township Frisch's closes its doors". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Alley, Megan (June 25, 2019). "New Richmond Frisch's Big Boy Restaurant will close its doors on June 27". The Clermont Sun. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  5. ^ Brownfield, Andy (July 26, 2021). "Frisch's CEO exits as company undergoes reorganization". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. ^ Monk, Dan (June 15, 2017). "Frisch's Big Boy to open Downtown store, ramp up expansion plans". WCPO (Channel 9). Retrieved July 17, 2017.