Tecumseh Big Boy to drop franchise affiliation

TECUMSEH — Operators of the popular Big Boy restaurant in Tecumseh have announced that it will be dropping its affiliation with the metro Detroit-based Big Boy chain and will turn independent this coming fall.

The family-owned restaurant on M-50 on the western edge of Tecumseh is planning not to renew its contract when the current 20-year franchise agreement expires Nov. 1 The owners are looking forward to some of the changes they hope to introduce as they strike out on their own, while trying to maintain much of what their customers have grown to love.

“We just want to be a nice, family restaurant that hopefully we’ve always been,” Sherri Tuckey, general manager and wife of Tecumseh Fire Chief Joe Tuckey, said. “We’ll continue with the favorite items that are on the Big Boy menu that we can.”

Tuckey said the only item that the company will not allow them to keep on the menu is the double-decker burger with a center bun called the “Big Boy,” as well as the formulation of some of its sauces.

The franchise has been part of the same family since it was opened by her father-in-law, Gene, in 1977 along with two partners that he later bought out. After Gene’s passing, the franchise was inherited by her husband, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. After buying out the sister-in-law, it is now co-owned by Joe and his brother, Blair. While most of the family, including her children, help out from time-to-time, Sherri is the only family member who works full-time at the restaurant.

Tuckey said that while they had a great relationship with Big Boy Restaurants International LLC, they felt that it was the right time to move on when “six or seven years” prior, the company told its franchisees to undertake a complete renovation if they wanted a new contract.

“We were not opposed to doing a store remodel. I’m sure (we’ll have to) do that much if not more just changing over. (But) we can spread it out a little more if we do it the way we’re going to do it,” Tuckey said, adding that most of the franchises appear to be making the same decision.

“Big Boy has been good to us. We have no hard feelings against them. I mean, I’m glad they’re doing that. I think they’re trying to make their chain stronger,” she said. “And we’ll miss them but I think we can do it on our own. I think it will be exciting.”

Some of the popular items Tuckey plans to keep include the Slim Jim, fish and chips, the strawberry waffle, the reuben, the soup and salad bar, and the all-day breakfast. But she looks forward to being able to add items such as perch and pork chops, for example.

Becoming independent will carry risks, but Tuckey feels that their restaurant has enough loyal customers to succeed. Some have even offered suggestions about what they would like to see on the new menu.

“We kind of want to go back to the way Big Boy was originally, which had daily specials (and) different things like that,” Tuckey said. “I think we’re going to try to kind of go back to some of the favorites that people — now that they understand what’s happening — they’re like ‘Oh, bring back this or bring back that.’ “

Tuckey also hopes to get a tavern license so that the restaurant can serve bottled beer and wine.

“Just bottles. We don’t want to do the whole bar thing,” Tuckey said. “But a lot of people do like that with their dinner.”

While the restaurant is a few months short of a year from going independent, they’ve already put a lot of thought into what their restaurant will be called, with the help of the contest. While she said “Firehouse Grill” was a popular suggestion, “most customers tend to like ‘T-Town Grill’ but they want our name on it.”

They are currently leaning toward calling it “Tuckey’s T-Town Grill.” But no matter what they call it, they want it to include a public service theme — honoring fire, police department personnel and veterans.

“I think we’ll probably take down the Big Boy statue and put up a fire truck,” she said. “Kids can get up there and have their picture taken like they always have with the Big Boy.”

Since they will no longer have to pay 5 percent of the restaurants monthly sales to the home company, Tuckey said she hopes to invest that money in her employees and community.

While they will be dropping the Big Boy identity, Tuckey said that they will still honor senior cards until they’re depleted and those customers are moved onto their own loyalty program. Discount cards will also be honored. Gift cards though, will only be honored until the switch, when they would no longer be able to redeem them from the parent company.