Occupation: restaurateurs
Last Seen: throughout Michigan
Bee-otched For: going from big boys to little failures
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If you own a restaurant, you're a risk-taker.
Bob Wian defined it to a T in 1936 when he traded in his car for a 10-seat diner near Los Angeles. In an interview from the 80s, Wian talked about the lack of quality greasy spoons had at the time. He called their cooks "winos" and their waitresses "a ready date". Regarding the quality of the food, Wian claimed that if they served burgers, chances were that their customers were eating questionable parts of the cow, including the ears.
Wian was a stickler for quality and customer satisfaction. He would even grind hamburger in front of his customers to prove that they were getting the best food money could buy. He wanted his restaurant to be clean and family friendly. So friendly, that a young boy named Richard Woodruff would come in repeatedly to enjoy his double deck hamburgers. He came in so often that Bob would call him "Big Boy", and the name stuck.
Sadly, Mr. Wian died 28 years ago at age 77. But, the spirit of that little kid in a checkered suit and suspenders still lives on at nearly 200 locations in the US.
But, last week, that beloved statue disappeared for good in Sandusky, MI, pop. about 2,700.
The Big Boy there was forced to drop all references to the company after corporate rescinded their franchise. The reason why is because the idiot owner did something that even Bob Wian himself probably wouldn't do right now: retain dine-in service.
Troy Tank owns the former Big Boy, which is currently nameless. When the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ordered all restaurants to end dine-in service a few weeks ago, Tank decided to defy the order and kept dine-in services rolling at his Big Boy. Since the order began, he's received more than $5,000 in fines, but has raised over $10,000 on a GoFundMe page. On his Facebook page, Tank bitched about a public health official screaming at employees and even one of his cooks, whom he claims has health issues and doesn't wear a mask while working. He also cries about his restaurant having "25 families that depend on this place to pay their bills" and yet, on his personal Facebook page, he's got a ton of photos of him holding dead deer and fish. I think he can skip a few hunting trips if he's that adamant about keeping his employees' bills paid.
Since the state's new dine-in ban started, some have defied their orders and have seen fines and even their liquor licenses revoked. And guess what? A judge has ruled in the favor of our great state. Until when she says so, Michigan's restaurants and bars are to remain dine-in-free until Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gives the OK.
I know. Most restaurants can't live on takeout alone. But, they gotta do what they gotta do. Surprisingly, the Big Boy in Wyoming near Grand Rapids is the direct opposite of the former one in Sandusky. Turns out that Paul Simons, the owner of that BB is a progressive and supports several causes, such as Southpaws. His BB is only one of five locations within a 25 mile radius of Grand Rapids. His son posted on Facebook that he's fearing that their BB will close. Because of this, Southpaws host Darren Gibson has given that Big Boy free advertising on his show. This weekend, I plan on visiting that location to lend them my support through this tough time. I'll be a good boy and eat out in my car.
Look, 2020 has been a tough year for me, for you and almost everybody else. When the pandemic started, I wondered if it would ever hit my family. It has. One of my maternal cousins and one of the daughters of another maternal cousin of mine - who just happens to be pregnant - now have COVID-19. I am hoping that both will get through it in good health.
Folks, COVID-19 IS REAL. END OF STORY. SURPRISE! TOO MANY ASSHOLES WHO GET COVID END UP GETTING IT THEMSELVES! If you own a restaurant and you're still allowing people to sit and eat, SHUT IT DOWN! Here's an idea: keep your waitstaff and operate your restaurant as a drive-in! Hell, many Big Boys were drive-ins way back when!
So, do us all a favor: keep wearing your masks and stay six feet apart. Don't like it? TOUGH! Besides, the vaccines will be out soon.
Please do it for yourself. Do it for Bob Wian.
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