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Irvine resident to launch a Bob’s Big Boy
October 25th, 2009, 12:56 pm · 19 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
That's me at the historic Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. Philip MacDonald's father built the building in 1949.
Irvine resident and Baja Fresh franchisee Philip MacDonald is planning to build a Bob’s Big Boy in Pasadena.
City officials are reviewing his plans to convert a 3,600-square foot Baja Fresh on East Del Mar Boulevard to a diner that would mirror the retro look of the 1949 Bob’s in Burbank.
Copying that look shouldn’t be too hard, as MacDonald owns and operates the landmark Burbank restaurant, which offers drive-through service.
“It (the Pasadena Bob’s) won’t look anything like the new corporate stores,” said MacDonald, referring to the contemporary look of the newer restaurants being built in Southern California.
MacDonald’s Baja Fresh restaurant in Pasadena is among more than dozen owned by him. The Pasadena fresh-Mex unit has struggled for years as new rivals have opened close by, including Rubio’s, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Sharkey’s and Chipotle, he said.
With sales slumping, he decided to not renew his franchise lease with the Cypress-based Baja Fresh.
Big Boy plaque in Burbank
The Pasadena location (near Lake Avenue) seemed, instead, a perfect spot to build another Bob’s — an iconic brand that is making a comeback in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
This summer, a new Bob’s Big Boy opened in the city of Orange, drawing hundreds of diners in its first week. That unit is owned by another franchisee. (View slideshow of that restaurant.)
“It’s remarkable, the nostalgia,” he said. “There is a real emotional attachment to the name.”
Ironically, MacDonald, a civil engineer by trade, didn’t always feel that same connection.
His father owned the original Bob’s building in Burbank for decades. When his dad died, MacDonald inherited the landmark site in the 1980s. He never planned to keep the restaurant.
Instead, he chose to get rid of it.
“We had preliminary plans for a 19-story high-rise office building,” said MacDonald.
The Pasadena Bob's Big Boy will look less contemporary than current concepts being built, including this one in Orange.
But a local preservation group scuttled those plans, and so MacDonald did the only thing he could think of: “I decided to operate it.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
The engineer turned restaurateur now operates more than a dozen Baja Fresh and Panera Bread franchises in Southern California.
And soon — maybe early next year — MacDonald will open a second Bob’s Big Boy. Stay tuned for updates.
The Pasadena location is at 899 E. Del Mar Blvd.
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How cute..I prefer the old-fashioned design.
barf
This is a wonderful Idea!! We used to travel from Covina to Glendale (until they took that one out) or to Industry (now there is a West Covina Bobs so we go there). Our family is in the Arcadia/ Monrovia so we will go to Pasadena as well
Just wanted to mention two locations available in Arcadia and Monrovia that would also be great for retro style dining. There is a vacant Spires restaurant on Huntington Dr. in Monrovia and a vacant Macaroni Grill restaurant on Huntington Dr in Arcadia.Both are charming locations and would convert well. It is a growing area with exciting new businesses. Bobs would do great!
We went to Bob’s Big boy this weekend at the Orange, Ca location. The service was great, however the food we received was less than desirable and because it was late and we were tired, we chose not to complain. I ordered the chile bowl and it was received lukewarm. Our onion rings were barely warm and over cooked. My wife had the cabbage soup and a burger. Again received lukewarm. Both were just not what I remembered from my youth. Needless to say we wont be going back to a Big Boys again. Oh and we also had the dessert. Your version of ice cream and cake with hot fudge. What a waste of money. Very sad.
This is interesting. I wondered how the newest incarnation of Bob’s would do… were people simply being nostalgic and that would drive initial business to these new locations, and then the business would drop off? Was this really a legitimate, lasting model for current times? Are there so many more choices now than there was in Bob’s previous hey day that the food now would seem mediocre and bland? …
I also went to the Orange location a week ago and was disappointed. Had to send the burger back because it was missing the cheese. And what I’d really craved (what used to be thick-cut, minimally-breaded onion rings) are now the commonly-found crunchy type with little onion inside.
why not put one in irvine?? or somewhere in south oc??
Bob doesn’t like south OC!
I take my hat off to anyone who is willing to putt their money on the line and provide jobs for our citizens. And I hope Bob’s Big Boy will provide jobs for our citizens.
Bob
PASADENA IS A GOOD LOCATION FOR BOB BIG BOY, THERE ARE SO MANY FAT,OUT OF SHAPE PEOPLE LIVING THERE. THEY DON”T CARE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. THEY LIKE TO WAIT FOR A MIRACLE.
Yes, unlike all of us here in OC…..
When I saw this headline, I got all excited.
Pasadena? Why should we in OC care. When you build another one down here, let us know.
Bob’s Big Boy…Why??
I think one of the things Bob’s corp needs to do is make sure the owners are consistent with their food, just like McDonalds does. I love Bob’s, but the quality varies wildly depending on the location. When it’s good, the food can be just like the old days. Other times, yuk.
This is a great thing, although that space is very small. It will be quite interesting to see how this actually turns out.
This is good news!! I heard every Wal-Mart store in the country is expanding. Yup, it’s true. The aisles are too narrow now for most of the people to get through.
“Clean-up on Aisle three. Yes, another Mrs. Grape again!”
Grew up in Glendale and loved Bob’s. Went to the new Orange location and wasn’t impressed. Tried it again last night and had THE WORST club sandwich ever! My daughter was told they were out of Chicken Parmigiana but they has Chicken and gravy! Really? Add cheeae and cover in Spaghetti Sauce! Poor food, poor service (no refills for 10 minutes) and poor chefs. Two and done! Bring on Rubys!
A Bob’s Big Boy would literally *EXPLODE* in South Orange County as long as the old “family dining & affordable prices” were reproduced!
Why the ones in Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo closed a few years back & both turned into Carrows’ is way beyond all local resident’s imagination! They were always packed, then one day there was a big sign up & lots and LOTS of tears.
Even I grew up with Bob’s Big Boy!
I was devastated when all the Bob’s Big Boy restaurants started closing. For the past several years, I ‘ve been driving to the one at the 60 and the 57. I went to the Orange location a couple of weeks after it opened. Food was fine but way too crowded to suit me. I will continue to drive to Diamond Bar.
Now if they’ll bring back Love’s Barbeque, I’ll be in heaven!