28-03-2025
Frisch's calls out Dolly's for 'ruthless display of corporate arts and crafts'
A Cincinnati burger war is starting to sizzle.
Earlier this month, "Dolly's Burgers and Shakes" began filling the vacant red and white buildings that once housed Frisch's Big Boys.
The diner, owned by Michigan-based Big Boy Restaurant Group, ruffled feathers with its new locations after more than 65 Frisch's locations throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, including more than half of the locations in Greater Cincinnati, were forced to shutter due to an ongoing eviction dispute.
As Dolly's works on its signage, Frisch's poked fun at the restaurant on social media Friday, calling the makeover of the old Frisch's locations a "crafty takeover."
"In a ruthless display of corporate arts and crafts, Dolly's has taken over Frisch's Big Boy—literally just slapped their logo right on top like a bad DIY project," Frisch's official Facebook page posted.
BREAKING: In a ruthless display of corporate arts and crafts, Dolly's has taken over Frisch's Big Boy—literally just...
Posted by Frisch's Big Boy on Friday, March 28, 2025
The chain added that it would be mad, but it's too focused on serving up tradition and "staying legendary."
Frisch's post comes after its other one from March 26, which said, "31 Locations. ONE Frisch's. Legend can't be imitated."
A spokesperson for Dolly's/Big Boy Restaurant Group was not immediately available for comment. A Frisch's spokesperson had nothing to add when reached out to for comment by The Enquirer.
Michigan-based Big Boy Restaurant Group said it would begin reopening former Frisch's Big Boy locations under a "working title" name of "Dolly's Burgers & Shakes," with the addition of some very familiar-looking menu items, such as "Big Boy" hamburgers – tweaked to suit local tastes.
It wants to reopen 55 closed Frisch's restaurants by June 1, CEO Tamer Afr told The Enquirer.
In March, a federal court issued a temporary order barring the company from using the Big Boy name after Frisch's sued claiming it has 'exclusive' rights to the moniker in most of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Afr said the company would prefer to operate the eateries under the Big Boy name, but that depends on the outcome of the court case.
Dolly is more than just a rival chain looking to replace Frisch's Big Boy. Their relationship is much deeper than that. The new diner concept is named after Big Boy's girlfriend, Dolly, from the comic books once published by the restaurant chain.
"The Adventures of the Big Boy" comics debuted in 1956 and were written by none other than Stan Lee − yes, that Stan Lee. The comics were made by Timely Comics, the predecessor of Marvel Comics.
The restaurant's comic books were handed out to kids for free so they'd have something to do while waiting for their food.
Two versions of each issue were produced, identical except for the West Coast or East Coast versions of the Big Boy character used. The stories featuring Big Boy, his girlfriend, Dolly, and his dog, Nugget, were published for 39 years.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Frisch's calls out Dolly's on social media amid battle for Big Boy
