bob's big boy
Bob's Big Boy Burbank is a privately held, family-owned American diner (established 1949) operating one location in Burbank, California, serving classic American fare, the trademarked Original Double Decker Burger, merchandise, film location rentals, and weekly classic car shows, with cultural significance tied to The Beatles booth and the Heat film location.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What bob's big boy does
Bob's Big Boy Burbank is a privately held, family-owned American diner operating from a single 5,000+ square-foot location at 4211 W Riverside Drive, Burbank, California, built in 1949 by Scott MacDonald and Ward Albert and designed by architect Wayne McAllister. The restaurant is the oldest remaining Bob's Big Boy in America, was designated a California Point of Historical Interest (#P779) in 1992, and holds cultural significance through The Beatles Booth (1965) and its role as a filming location for Michael Mann's Heat (1995). The MacDonald Family has owned and operated the business since 1993 through the legal entity MacDonald & Albert, with Mike Lopez serving as General Manager; the operation is entirely self-funded with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or subsidiaries.
The core offering is full-service diner food and beverage: breakfast served all day, plus lunch and dinner featuring the trademarked Original Double Decker Burger, sandwiches, fried chicken, salads, entrees, milkshakes, and desserts, with dine-in for 166 guests, weekend car-hop service, and an exterior patio. The business operates a secondary merchandise and collectibles e-commerce line of approximately 160 SKUs including apparel, hats, drinkware, skateboards, stickers, the proprietary Big Boy Seasoning Salt, and limited-run 75th anniversary collectibles (a serial-numbered 750-unit commemorative coin and 5,000-unit enamel pin), plus a film location rental service (minimum $6,000 for four hours), 'A Night at Bob's' nonprofit fundraising program, and gift certificates ($5 and $20) that never expire but are valid only at the Burbank store.
The business model is multi-stream and unit-priced: restaurant F&B sales, merchandise sales via a Shopify storefront, B2B film location rentals, and community fundraising. Customer segments span local families, classic car enthusiasts (weekly Friday Classic Car Show co-hosted with the Road Kings of Burbank), international tourists, film productions, and nonprofit organizations. Distribution is intentionally limited to a single physical address with merchandise sold online but fulfillment tied to the Burbank location; there is no franchise system and no external capital structure.
bob's big boy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- bob's big boy
- Legal name
- MacDonald & Albert
- Website
- https://bobs.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Bob's Big Boy Burbank is a privately held, family-owned American diner (established 1949) operating one location in Burbank, California, serving classic American fare, the trademarked Original Double Decker Burger, merchandise, film location rentals, and weekly classic car shows, with cultural significance tied to The Beatles booth and the Heat film location.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
bob's big boy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Diner Restaurant
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family-Style Restaurants (THAFACAC)
Keywords
Where bob's big boy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
bob's big boy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Restaurant Food and Beverage Sales: Full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dine-in and car-hop service. Over 5,000 square feet of dining space with seating for 166. Famous for the Original Double Decker Burger.
- Merchandise and Souvenir Sales: Online shop selling apparel, drinkware, accessories, and commemorative items. 160 products including t-shirts, hats, bobbleheads, and 75th anniversary collectibles. Free domestic shipping on orders over $150.
- Film Location Rental: Film production companies can rent the location for shoots. Minimum budget of $6000 for four hours, with fees determined case by case based on impact to operations.
- Fundraising Programs: Organizations can host 'A Night at Bob's' fundraising events and sell gift certificates to support their causes.
- Gift Certificates: Physical gift certificates sold in $5 and $20 denominations, valid at the Burbank location only. Never expire.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch/Dinner Items - Burgers and Sandwiches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch/Dinner Items - Entrees and Sides |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Desserts and Beverages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Breakfast Items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Apparel and Merchandise |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drinkware and Accessories |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Gift Certificates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Commemorative Collectibles |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
bob's big boy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bob's Big Boy Burbank operates a single-location full-service American diner restaurant in Burbank, California, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner including the signature Original Double Decker Burger, alongside dine-in and weekend car-hop service. The business also sells branded merchandise (apparel, drinkware, collectibles, seasoning salt, gift certificates) through an in-restaurant gift shop and Shopify-powered online store, and hosts recurring community events such as the weekly Classic Car Show and nonprofit fundraising nights.
Product overview
Bob's Big Boy operates a single restaurant location in Burbank, California (the oldest remaining Big Boy in America, established 1949) combined with an e-commerce merchandise store. The core offering is classic American diner food service featuring the signature Double Decker Big Boy burger, plus a comprehensive merchandise line including apparel (t-shirts, Hawaiian shirts, hats, longsleeves, hoodies, beanies), drinkware (coffee mugs, pint glasses, souvenir cups, Tiki mugs), collectibles (bobbleheads, commemorative coins, pins, ornaments), accessories (stickers, patches, keychains, postcards, skateboards, fingerboards, seasoning salt), and gift certificates. The company also hosts recurring events (weekly Classic Car Show, fundraising nights, film location shoots) and commemorative products tied to its 75th anniversary (1949-2024).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Restaurant Lunch & Dinner Service Midday and evening dine-in service at the Burbank restaurant featuring burgers (including the signature Big Boy and Super Big Boy), sandwiches, fried chicken, salads, entrees, chili, and desserts; available with dine-in seating for 166 guests and weekend car-hop service.
- All-Day Breakfast Service All-day breakfast offering at the Burbank restaurant including eye openers, eggs, pancakes, French toast, Belgian waffles, omelets, scrambles, and breakfast specialties, served from 6 AM.
- Weekend Car-Hop Service Drive-in car-hop ordering and delivery service re-introduced on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Burbank location, offering classic American diner fare to vehicle-bound guests.
- Milkshakes and Fountain Drinks Signature thick milkshakes (vanilla, chocolate, mocha, banana, orange cream, strawberry), flavored Cokes, and root beer floats served in-store and via car-hop.
- Branded Apparel Bob's Big Boy branded clothing line sold online and at the Burbank gift shop, including t-shirts, Hawaiian shirts, hats and caps, longsleeves, hoodies and sweatshirts, and knit beanies across multiple themed designs (Famous, Golden, Woody, 75th Anniversary, Skulls, Milkshake, etc.).
- Drinkware and Souvenir Cups Branded drinkware including ceramic coffee mugs (Diner Mug, Tower, 75th Coffee Mug, etc.), pint glasses (Bleu, L'Orange, Superstar, 75th Anniversary), 32oz souvenir cups including the 2025 Carousel Souvenir Cup, and hand-painted Tiki Mugs.
- Big Boy Seasoning Salt Signature proprietary seasoning blend (celery salt, paprika, garlic powder, curry powder, shredded parsley, spices), 3.5oz, sold as a registered branded merchandise product with a 10-year shelf life.
- Collectibles (Bobblehead, Coin Bank, Commemorative Coin) Branded collectibles including a 4-inch PVC Bobblehead figure, an 8-inch vinyl Coin Bank, and the serialized 75th Anniversary Commemorative Coin (silver-plated, 2-inch, 85g, limited to 750 numbered pieces).
- Skateboards and Mini-Fingerboards Branded miniature skateboards and fingerboards in multiple designs (Hoss, Ignition, Skulls, Pop, Charger), sold online and in the Burbank gift shop.
- Accessories (Stickers, Patches, Keychains, Postcards, Air Fresheners, Patches) Miscellaneous branded accessories including die-cut vinyl stickers (multiple designs and 5-packs), patches, keychains, magnets, tote bags, coin purses, necklaces, Christmas ornaments, luggage tags, tattoos, fingerboards, postcards, and air fresheners.
- Gift Certificates Physical gift certificates sold in $5 and $20 denominations; valid only at the Burbank restaurant, never expire, and can be resold by non-profit organizations for fundraising.
- Classic Car Show Event Recurring weekly Friday evening (4-10pm) Classic Car Show event at the Burbank location, hosted in partnership with the Road Kings of Burbank car club; features classic cars with the iconic tower sign as backdrop and attracts attendees from across the metro area.
- Filming Location Rental Permit-based film and photography location rental at the historic Burbank restaurant and iconic 70-foot tower sign for productions; minimum $6,000 budget for four hours with fees determined case by case based on operational impact. Past productions include Michael Mann's Heat (1995).
- Host A Night at Bob's Fundraising Program Fundraising event program for not-for-profit organizations to host 'A Night at Bob's' at the restaurant and resell Bob's gift certificates to support their causes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Oldest remaining Bob's Big Boy in America since 1949 (75+ years)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use bob's big boy
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
bob's big boy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
bob's big boy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Road Kings of BurbankminorLocal classic car club that partners with Bob's Big Boy for the weekly Friday Classic Car Show. Car enthusiasts cruise in looking for prime spots where the tower sign's red neon reflects off freshly polished hoods. The event has become a slice of Americana, drawing classic car lovers from all around Los Angeles.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
bob's big boy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Denny's: Large national diner chain operating 24/7 full-service restaurants with all-day breakfast - directly comparable in service model and menu architecture, though at vastly greater scale and with a corporate (vs. family-owned) structure.
- In-N-Out Burger: California-based privately held burger chain with cult brand status and a tight, focused menu. Comparable as a family-owned California QSR/fast-casual brand monetizing signature items (Double-Double vs. Double Decker), although its service model is counter vs. full-service.
- Big Boy Restaurants International: The parent brand and franchisor of the Big Boy system. Operates and licenses Bob's Big Boy restaurants in multiple states; comparable as the wider brand umbrella under which the Burbank operator's licensed trademark sits.
Emerging players
- Shakey's Pizza Parlor: Historic American pizza-and-family-dining chain with a similar mid-century origin story (1954) and nostalgic family-dining positioning. Comparable as a heritage-format restaurant brand with cultural cachet among older American consumers.
Direct peers
- Pann's Restaurant: Historic LA coffee shop known for its preserved mid-century Googie architecture (similar era and style to Wayne McAllister's design of Bob's Big Boy). Comparable as a family-operated diner landmark trading on nostalgia and architectural heritage.
- Frisch's Big Boy: Long-running Bob's Big Boy franchisee operating a regional chain of Big Boy restaurants in Ohio and surrounding states. Directly comparable as a same-brand diner operator with full-service menus, car-side service traditions, and Big Boy trademark rights in its territory.
- The Original Pantry Cafe: Family-owned Los Angeles diner landmark (est. 1924) serving classic American fare 24/7. Highly comparable as an LA-based, family-operated, historic diner destination with similar pricing and clientele.
- Mel's Drive-In: Classic American diner chain in the San Francisco Bay Area, founded in 1947, with the same mid-century Americana positioning, car-hop service heritage, and full-service diner format as Bob's Big Boy Burbank. Direct competitor for the nostalgic diner tourist dollar.
Regional players
- Norms Restaurants: Southern California diner chain famous for its Googie architecture and 24-hour service. Comparable in format (full-service diner) and regional identity (SoCal classic Americana), and competes with Bob's Big Boy for the same Southern California family diner audience.
- Musso & Frank Grill: Hollywood landmark restaurant operating since 1919, famous for its celebrity clientele and preserved interior. Comparable as an LA cultural institution trading on heritage, identity, and a tightly held family operation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
bob's big boy social profiles
Digital presencebob's big boy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
bob's big boy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
bob's big boy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
bob's big boy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
bob's big boy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about bob's big boy
What does bob's big boy do?
Bob's Big Boy Burbank operates a single-location full-service American diner restaurant in Burbank, California, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner including the signature Original Double Decker Burger, alongside dine-in and weekend car-hop service. The business also sells branded merchandise (apparel, drinkware, collectibles, seasoning salt, gift certificates) through an in-restaurant gift shop and Shopify-powered online store, and hosts recurring community events such as the weekly Classic Car Show and nonprofit fundraising nights.
Is bob's big boy a public or private company?
bob's big boy is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was bob's big boy founded?
bob's big boy was founded in 1949.
Where is bob's big boy based?
bob's big boy is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does bob's big boy make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Food and Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise and Souvenir Sales, film Location Rental, fundraising Programs and gift Certificates.
Who are bob's big boy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Denny's, In-N-Out Burger and Big Boy Restaurants International. Shakey's Pizza Parlor is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Pann's Restaurant, Frisch's Big Boy, The Original Pantry Cafe and Mel's Drive-In. Regional players are Norms Restaurants and Musso & Frank Grill.
Does bob's big boy have an API?
No public API is recorded for bob's big boy.
What industry is bob's big boy in?
bob's big boy's product category is Diner Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAC, Family-Style Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.