Big Boy Franchise Rights Sold

Elias Bros. Restaurants Inc. of Detroit, which operates 238 Big Boy Restaurants in two states and Canada, has purchased franchise rights to the 914-unit Big Boy system from Marriott Corp., company officials say.

The Big Boy system, acquired by Marriott in 1967, has operations in 39 states, Canada and Japan and estimated annual sales between $950 million and $1 billion.

No value was place on the purchase, which did not include the California restaurants.

Elias Bros. has been a Big Boy franchisee since 1953 and has restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada.

“This transfer will give them an even greater stake in the future,” Ronald R. Powell, Marriott executive vice president and general manager of Big Boy Restaurants, said Wednesday.