When I was in high school, hanging out with friends or going on a date at the local Big Boy was one of those popular things to do.
The food was good, inexpensive, and you’d always see some of your classmates there.
Big Boy restaurants were known for their hamburgers, shakes, and delicious desserts; strawberry pie was a big hit!
But what made the Big Boy restaurants stand out in the communities I’ve lived in was their support for local groups, especially youth sport teams.
They would sponsor baseball, football, soccer, and even the high school tennis team.
You couldn’t miss the framed photos of the teams on the walls as you paid your bill at the checkout.
There was the photo of Rick, the middle school boy down the street who played baseball, with his team or Sue, the high school senior who was the standout soccer player in the community, with her team holding the championship trophy.
Over the years, the Big Boy restaurants in southeast Michigan started shutting down.
I never knew if it was because of competition from Max & Erma’s, Red Robin, or other similar burger restaurants, or that the owners decided to move on.
I was sad when two Big Boy restaurants in our area closed in the past few years.
One was torn down for expansion of a grocery story. The other restaurant is now a coney island.
Oh, the Memories
So when I saw the statue of the boy in the red and white checkered overalls at the Big Boy in Tipp City, Ohio this weekend, I had a rush of fond memories.
Slim Jim sandwiches, strawberry shakes, and planning a recognition ceremony with my high school friends from Girl Scouts in a booth near the back where no one would bother us.
I remembered a long-forgotten date with a fellow in the grade ahead of me in high school. What was his name?
And a late evening talk with one of my best friends who had broken up with her boyfriend.
I smiled as I stopped into the restaurant, sat down, and recognized many of the items on the menu.
And the strawberry shake tasted wonderful!
