Amid the steam and sizzle of griddles at work, a new player has charged into the local fast-food arena. This week marked the debut of Dolly's Burgers and Shakes, housed within the walls of what once was a beacon for the Frisch's brand. In Anderson Township, hungry patrons can now feast on the offerings of this latest eatery under the Big Boy Restaurant Group—a Michigan-based entity expanding its culinary footprint one burger at a time.
Anderson's grand opening followed closely behind the launch of another Dolly's along Plainfield Road in Blue Ash, indicative of the parent company's sudden and determined push. Local12 reported that Dolly's first area opened just one day before its sibling establishment, amidst a larger scheme to revive dozens of once-vibrant Frisch's spots that have since shuttered their doors.
The wind in the sails of this expanding franchise comes from no less than the CEO himself, committed to a vigorous and unrelenting growth strategy. According to a BizJournals interview, he vocalized no intention to ease off the gas, plotting an ambitious map of conquest leveraging the legacy of the Frisch's infrastructure. This aggressive initiative signals a fiery determination to solidify the new brand's presence amidst legal disputes over the Big Boy name, a legacy both cherished and contended in the annals of diner history.
But nostalgia for Frisch's aside, Dolly's Burgers and Shakes serves more than memories; it's a reminder of a long-standing coexistence with Big Boy establishments. Operating 56 restaurants across a swath of states and even reaching international soil in Thailand, Big Boy Restaurant Group houses a diverse portfolio, now seasoned with the essence of Dolly's. WLWT notes that the "working title" of Dolly's Burgers and Shakes may pay homage to its lineage—though beneath the bun and beyond the shake lies a battleground of brand identity and strategy.
What unfolds in the coming months will be a story not solely of flavors and fare but of branding brinkmanship and the quest for a chunk of the diner demographic. Dolly's arrival at 7706 Beechmont Ave., where Frisch's once dished out smiles and Big Boys, marks a new chapter—not just for the bustling township of Anderson but for a nostalgic notion of Americana reimagined for the modern appetite. And as these freshly minted locations pour shakes and flip patties, the eyes of the industry will be watching, forks at the ready to see if Dolly's can truly relish success.
