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»3Se is z.z* *??s jk ri;k -a*.Growing painsBig Boy slims down; now, if is looking toward expansionBy Rick Haglung — — “*.**» After four-year absenceih du ini co r*Bt Rick Hajrtun?WARREN. MICH. - Big Boy has sliir.icfd down and is on Ihc run, symbolising ibe marsthon restaurant e«p»nt-»on activity ol his l»o dad! Fred and Louis Elra*Over the pssl 50 years, these two septuagenarian restaurateurs haw enlarged their busi ness. Elias Brothers Restaurants Inc., from a single Detroit ehjb Joint to an International family restaurant chain that now controls the entire Big Boy Restou rant tranchiw system Still, the company is hungry for further growth, with plans to expand Internationally and to unify the loosely run Iranchlse operation!*™.Lay year, tl* Big Boy system — which has its headquarters in Warren, a Detroit suburb wus the 10th-largest restaurant chain lo the United States, with cat mated sales of il l bllUon and 914 restaurants, according to Restaurant Hospitality magazine.The Kfl restaurants owned or franchised by Elias Brothers contributed about M2S million to that figure. That is up ?! percent from 1982. when Elias Brothers revenues were at $3M million says Executive Vice President WiltamH Morgan Meanwhile, Big Boy, the com pany s logo, also has taken on new dimensions Ho longer the fat little boy In red-and-white-checkered overalls botding aloft the double decker hamburger that made him famous, he has dropped a few pounds — as well as the hamburger — and has assumed a running position Reedy to keep pace with the healthy, active new Big Hoy ut Elias Brothers officials, who have their sights set on expansion.President Lou Ellas says he m visions expansion on the East and West coasts, as well as in Europe and the Arab states. In addition to the United States, there are Big Boy restaurants in Canada and iipan Until Jut year, privately held Ellas Brothers was one of atwit a doxcn regional franchisees in the Big Boy chain, which was owned by the Mamott Corp. of Washington, D C . the giant hotel, restaurant and food service firm. But in November IM7, Mamott sold all franchise rights for an undisclosed amount to Ellas Brothers.According to trade industry reports, Marriott mny have sold the Big Boy system for little or no cash because of long-term, unprofitable franchise agreements It Inherited with Its 1967 pur chase of the Big Boy system frc= ::s Cai^rsii artgnr.tsr. Bob Wlan SUB. the buy looked good to the Ellas brothers because of their expansion plans Owning all the franchise rights means that anyone who wants to start a BigBoy restaurant anywhere In r a franchise frElby’s rejoins Big Boy franchise systemWHEELING, W.Va. - The Big Boy name soon will reppeu on the signs cf all 75 ElbyS restaurants serving West Virginia, Ohio and PmnsylvuiQ alter a four-year absence Elby s rejoined the interralwial Big Boy (ran chise system Aug. I, according to George Booty, chief executive officer of Elby s Big Boy. home of the double decker hamburger. was founded in Califoma 52 years ago and to day caisitfs ol approximately 9CC restaurants in II* I’niled States. Canada and Japan Elby s became part of the Big Boy System in 1956. but drtpprd out in 19K.“Rejoinng the system will affect Elby’s restaurants tn name only. said Boury. It will not mean a chanse of our fine service, or basic quali ty menu items It will make Elbys i«r. of the fii*st family-style restaurant chain m the world ‘Our decision lo rejoin the chain after a faur-yeax absence was made primarily because Elias believes, as we do. in high service standards and fine quality foods.-_be added Inal £.1—» SiV«ii.i» Mtoeaie •Warren. Mich., acquired the franchise rightsfrom the Mamott Corporation of Washington. D.C.Elias Brothers Restaurants was or* of the first Big Boy franchisees, and the largest with more than 250 restaurants In Michigan. Northern Ohio and Ontario. Canada Boury raid two recent major changes Ji U* National 3!g Boy program helped Elbys officials wtfrnr deeamoci ‘First of aU. the entire chain is being united under the Big Boy name, which means our Elby s name, as well as all other franchise names, will eventually be phased out.We feci this is a major advantage because It will provide our restaurants, the strength of * na tlonat name giving Big Boy an awareness it has n«m enjoyed.The chain is also moving toward a consistent core menu. This means that ill Big Boys across the country will offer the ssme bssic items, along with certain regional favorites. saiddkanvodrAsGarvucl■SK.are very pleased to tare Elbj's tack Inuie ijaveiu. oilt;j rili«» S.««.iele S«'iMaUpresident Louis Elias.sSan Francisco, says Marriott wanted to sell the franchise®i» because they didn't pro much rcrenue tn addition. Marriott was more interested in owning Its own hotels. restaurants and contract food service operations, rather than heading a franchise oper ation. Mueller says. Marriott kept ownership of its 200 Bob’s Big Boys, tbough-Elias Brothers officials say a major goal now is to unify theSweii A Rockwell, an analyst with Alex Brown and Sons lor.in Baltimore says the Big Boy system has suffered from disuni ty because of its regional franchise setup, which has atowed franchises to operate almost as independent businesses -HlstorkaUy. Big Boy has been a loose association of very independent franchisees Rockwell say*One of the ways Elias Brothers is trying to unify the system is by creating the modernized Big Boy sign lego that will stand alone, with no reference to the IranchiGreat RalTerrn^Wworld muat bu*i Fred and Lou.Michael Mueller, an tnalyat wHh Mnntwmvrv InMONTGOMERY and BUCKS COUNTY REAP MANY BENEFITS from HR BLOCK'S TAX COURSEWary sircetsM Montgomery 8 x*s County !*■ fxepar»s ig»« tagui r«x careers by errolra h the MAR Block Income fax Course Dihers ham taken ibe oxrse to TOea«ther eMty vo aicuaeiy w«Mre ir*. on re-hi-ns.hfrOs-co jroMfm SObm■ Ths**1; ’«j bxwV Ths year's dess es w« rtrwkxe fwicprfs to the laSfSlai laws.NSR BlKi. the taboos tograt tax prepwaaco lirm, has wen Oiacfwg name lai prepare** to 22 yea* Ths yen the best ircome la ccww sorts cn Stolen:# 8 *orrmg. emng. and Sarudav Oats** are svaiabUtoa)**) corse grtdwles mh ta cflwed i» ir«n*« to pos-borowih BCc*. 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Newspaper Details
Doylestown Intelligencer
Doylestown, Pennsylvania, US
Fri, Aug 19, 1988
Page 106
Full Page
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Robert T.
NY, USA 16 Sep 2016
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