What happens to a Frisch's after the Big Boy leaves?
Dozens of Frisch's restaurants closed in late 2024 after the company's landlord sought to evict it from more than 50 locations.
Before the closures, Frisch's had more than 80 restaurants in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Now the diner chain currently has 31 locations across the area.
But many of the former restaurants haven't stayed empty. Some former Frisch's spots have been turned into: a Skyline Chili restaurant, an animal clinic and even a marijuana dispensary.
Here's a look at how former Frisch's locations have been repurposed.
Delhi Township Frisch's becomes 7brew Coffee
7 Brew, an Arkansas-based drive-thru coffee chain known for its customizable drink menu, plans to open its newest shop in Delhi Township at 5202 Delhi Pike, where a Frisch's
once stood, according to a previous Enquirer report.
Construction was expected to begin around Aug. 4 and take roughly 90 days, according to its zoning application. The new drive-thru will be 7 Brew's seventhlocation in Greater Cincinnati.
Covington Frisch's becomes a Skyline Chili
The Skyline Chili in Covington, which had been on Third Street for roughly 55 years, moved into the former Frisch's restaurant at the corner of Philadelphia and West Fifth streets, just two blocks away from its original location, after facing the threat of closure in 2023.
The new location opened in June 2026.
Norwood Frisch's becomes a vet clinic
Eric Lies, president and CEO of Noah's Ark, bought a former Frisch's Big Boy in Norwood, with plans to open the animal clinic's sixth location. He's aiming to open the clinic at 4765 Montgomery Road by fall 2027.
Lies said he hasn't decided whether to remodel or demolish the building, but said, "It's not going to look like a Frisch's when we're done."
Fort Wright Frisch's becomes a chophouse restaurant
Billy Grise and Mitch Arens, co-owners of Carmelo's Italian restaurant in Covington, are opening an American chophouse in Fort Wright at 20 Kyles Lane. The building formerly housed a Frisch's Big Boy that relocated to Orphanage Road in August.
The duo is still developing the restaurant's name and design, which will honor the stretch of Dixie Highway through Fort Wright once known as the Gourmet Strip for the restaurants that lined it, most of which are long gone.
The 160-seat restaurant will include an outdoor patio and operate under Grise and Arens' Something Underground Hospitality group, which also includes Carmelo's.
Fairfield Township Frisch's becomes a First Watch
First Watch, a brunch chain, moved into the formerFrisch's location at 3050 Anchor Drivein Fairfield Township last year. The Florida-based chain's new 5,400-square-foot restaurant has a bar, more than 160 seats and a variety of breakfast, brunch and lunch offerings.
Union Township Frisch's becomes a dispensary
Certified Cultivators plans to open a marijuana dispensary in a former Frisch's Big Boy at 559 State Route 125 in Union Township. The cannabis company has also turned a former Frisch's in Columbus into a dispensary and plans to do the same in Dayton.
Certified Cultivators President Zach Weprin said the former fast-food restaurants offer "great access" for customers, including existing drive-thru lanes.
The Union Township store is expected to open in spring 2027, according to a CityBeat report.
The Enquirer's Kaycee Sloan, Randy Tucker, Keith Pandolfi, Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Jolene Almendarez and Grace Tucker contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What's moving into former Frisch's Big Boy restaurants? Well, a lot
