Frisch’s customers reminisce about last meals at 2 locations

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Frisch’s fans are wondering whether their favorite spot, Big Boy or a slice of pumpkin pie, is here to stay.

Court records show nearly 20 locations in trouble in Greater Cincinnati After the release papers were delivered to him. The fate of the two places has already been decided. Locations in Lebanon and Franklin will close permanently Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Local 12 spoke with many people who enjoyed their last Frisch meal. Customers said they were upset because their hometowns were close. A place many remember going after church and enjoying a Big Boy burger.

Aside from the customers, the Lebanon location has a server who has been there for 31 years, and although he couldn’t speak to Local 12 as a current employee, he will miss his customers as much as they miss him. All that remains of Franklin’s iconic Big Boy with his red plaid pants and slicked-back hair is a slab of cement.

The Stansberries had been loyal customers for years and were shocked to learn it was closing.

“The people who work here have always been very nice and made sure we had everything we needed,” Middletown resident Karen Stansberry said.

Her husband Keith said the closure was a generational change.

“We’ve always enjoyed coming here with different people. Some of them have passed away, and we’re the ones left behind,” Karen said.

“Most of them are dead,” Keith Stansberry said.

“We’re the ones left,” Karen said.

Peggy Chadwell said the Lebanon location has been a part of her life since she was a child. He was speaking nostalgically as he described how he came to the restaurant after school.

“Even though it wasn’t on the diet, we had to have our last celebration and have our last Big Boy here. We kind of miss it because it feels like it’s, I don’t know, part of everything I’ve ever grown up (with),” Chadwell said.

Chadwell said he’ll miss staples like burgers and desserts.

“He (my husband) loves chili, so we still come here once or twice. And of course, the salad bar. Now that we’re older, you’ve got to have a salad bar,” Chadwell said.

When the Reffitts met in Miamisburg 52 years ago, they fell in love with food and each other.

“That was our first date. We sat at Frisch’s. So it was after church on a Sunday,” Darlene Reffitt said.

“Yeah, I didn’t think about my breath and ordered onion rings,” said her husband, Mike Reffitt.

Frisch’s said employees have the opportunity to transfer elsewhere. But for some, it’s not about work. The people who make the restaurant are the regulars. Local 12 asked Frisch’s and his attorneys about their eviction case Tuesday.

When Local 12 asked Frisch’s last week about the closing rumors, they sent out a statement saying:

They will close in certain locations “due to unforeseen circumstances and various other factors.” They did not confirm specific locations.