Bob’s Big Boy was a chain of Southern California diners that was started by Bob Wian in 1936. There was 9 restaurants in total, only one of which remains in operation (in Toluca Lake, near Warner Bros.) The one pictured in this rather atmospheric night shot from 1948 was at 624 S. San Fernando Blvd in Burbank. From the look of the signage, it seems they served something for everyone: chili, steaks, sandwiches, salads, and of course hamburgers, known as the Bob’s Big Boy.
Here some info about the CHILI SIZE mentioned in the sign above the door.
Here’s a Bob’s Big Boy menu from 1956:
This is how that view looked in August 2022.
There was a Bob’s Big Boy, complete with statue, in the City Hall Mall for many years. They lost their lease and were suddenly and unceremoniously closed some years ago, leaving the many long-time employees out of luck.
I loved Bob’s I use to go to the one in Toluca Lake all the time. We use to dine and dash there when low on funds in high school. Sorry for that Bob’s I will leave an extra-large tip I get down to there. Morro bay Ca had a Bob’s Big Boy come in about 2009, I heard it was not very good and I think it was gone by 2011. I am glad the one in Toluca Lake is still there, there were a lot of my favorite restaurants in that area, the Smoke House is another, I still make trips down to Burbank to go there.
I would love to see a picture of the Bob’s that was on Balboa Island.
You know, Substitute ‘Shony’ for Bob and you have an identical restaurant chain.
We had one in Santa Barbara. It was sold to a car dealership along with the land that the Golf N’ Stuff occupied in the early 90s and someone smashed up the Big Boy statue in retribution. For a short time (not sure exactly of the dates but I went there once in 2008 or 2009) a small restaurant opened in Santa Paula.
What happened to these locations??? I love the current picture as there is nothing better than looking at an empty lot!!!! I would have thought these places would have been very popular just like Mel’s in American Graffiti. Were they in the 50s and 60s? Hopefully the one that is now left is attracting many car enthusiast on Friday and Saturday nights as we are losing places like Bob’s rapidly being replaced with strip malls and sushi joints!!!! Hope someone will be able to answer these questions,
We had one in Culver City that was a real high school hang-out (along with Shakey’s Pizza, which was about three blocks away).
One of the school traditions was that the senior class got to “decorate” the senior lawn the night before graduation. Two plans my class had were to either “liberate” the Mark C. Bloom tire guy or the Bob’s Big Boy statue. The tire statue was waaaay too big, and Big Boy was much too securely nailed down. Plans foiled!
I give you extra points for ambitions!