By Jeff Rumage
MEQUON - Two patties, an extra slice of bun in the middle and secret sauce.
Many Milwaukee-area residents fondly remember Big Boy hamburgers. The last remaining Wisconsin Marc’s Big Boy restaurant closed its doors in 1995, but the famous burgers will soon be available again.
Ovation Sarah Chudnow, a Jewish faith-based senior living and care provider, is hosting a Big Boy Reunion on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
The evening includes a dinner of classic favorites — the Big Boy Burger, famous onion rings, fries and strawberry pie — along with a special presentation by guest speakers Steve and Greg Marcus. Greg Marcus is president and CEO and Steve Marcus is chairman of the board for The Marcus Corporation. For nearly 40 years the company operated more than 60 Big Boy restaurants in the Midwest.
“As an organization dedicated to Milwaukee families, we’re thrilled to have father and son duo Steve and Greg out to celebrate one of our city’s best-loved hangouts,” said John Lawson, Ovation Sarah Chudnow executive director. “We hope people will dig out their Big Boy mementos and join us for a fun evening reliving those happy days.”
Big Boy restaurants first opened in California in the 1940s. In 1958, The Marcus Corporation opened the first Marc’s Big Boy in Milwaukee and continued to run the franchise through the mid-1990s. Steve and Greg will take event-goers back to the Big Boy experience and also talk about what The Marcus Corporation is doing today.
“Marc’s Big Boy restaurants were an icon in Milwaukee for many years. It was one of the most popular franchises we’ve ever been a part of and we had a lot of fun with it,” said Steve Marcus. “Unfortunately, the brand didn’t evolve with changing restaurant trends and we had to ultimately repurpose those restaurants. The good news is the signature burger still lives on through events such as this."
The Big Boy Reunion is Wednesday, Aug. 9 at Ovation Sarah Chudnow, 10995 N. Market St. in Mequon. Dinner is at 6 p.m. with the program following at 7 p.m.
The dinner is $10 per person and the program is free. Reservations are required for dinner and can be booked by calling 262-478-1500. Event attendees are encouraged to bring their Big Boy memorabilia.
For those looking to enjoy the Big Boy burger after Aug. 9, it’s on the lunch menu at Kil@Wat, The Marcus Corporation’s restaurant located in the InterContinental Hotel.