Six Dolly’s Burgers & Shakes restaurants in Southwest Ohio closed in October 2025, just seven months after they first opened.
The restaurants were operated by Big Boy Restaurant Group, a Michigan-based company that aimed to revive the famous Big Boy brand in the region. Big Boy is an 89-year-old restaurant chain founded in 1936, which once had hundreds of locations across America.
The company opened its first new Ohio location in Blue Ash on March 10, 2025, and quickly added five more restaurants in Cincinnati and Dayton within weeks. However, all six locations shut down on October 23, 2025, resulting in job losses for workers who had hoped for stable employment.
The closures occurred during a challenging period for family-style restaurants nationwide, as similar chains such as TGI Fridays, Red Lobster, and Hooters have also faced bankruptcies and store closures in recent years.
Denny’s CEO Kelli Valade recently stated that “family dining has struggled more than any other restaurant segment since the pandemic,” highlighting the challenges faced by these types of restaurants in surviving the pandemic.
A Legal Fight Over the Big Boy Name
The quick closure occurred due to a legal battle over who could use the “Big Boy” name in Ohio. In 2001, Frisch’s Big Boy, a local Ohio operator, entered into an agreement that granted them exclusive rights to use the Big Boy name in parts of the Midwest, including Ohio.
When Frisch’s encountered serious financial difficulties in 2024 and had to close more than 20 locations after missing over $4.5 million in rent payments, Big Boy Restaurant Group saw an opportunity to re-enter the area.
On February 14, 2025, Frisch’s sued Big Boy Restaurant Group, claiming that it was violating the territorial agreement by attempting to reopen former Frisch’s locations under the Big Boy name. A federal judge agreed with Frisch’s and issued a restraining order in March that stopped Big Boy from using its name or logo in Southwest Ohio.
This forced the company to rename all its new restaurants “Dolly’s Burgers & Shakes,” after the Big Boy mascot’s girlfriend character. Big Boy CEO Tamer Afr originally planned to open 55 locations in the region by June, but the naming problem made it too difficult to continue.
What Happens Next
The future remains unclear for both companies as they continue fighting in court over the Big Boy trademark rights. Big Boy Restaurant Group said it closed the Dolly’s locations because “operating under these circumstances is no longer viable” without being able to use its famous name.
Big Boy Restaurant Group hopes to return and reopen under the Big Boy name once it resolves the legal issues. Meanwhile, Frisch’s Big Boy, which once had over 80 restaurants in 2024, now operates only about 31 locations after its financial troubles.
Industry experts say that even if Big Boy wins the legal case, rebuilding would be extremely difficult because they would need to find new locations, hire new staff, and convince customers to return in a market where mid-priced dining restaurants are struggling to survive.
The six empty Dolly’s restaurants now stand as reminders of how legal disputes and changing customer preferences can quickly end even well-known restaurant brands.