Bismarck's Big Boy opened in 1954.

Other than the famous statues adorning its lawn, little about the Bismarck Big Boy Restaurant resembles those from the national chain, with its drive-through only service and unique menu offerings. Due to its extreme popularity, amongst residents and visitors alike, the restaurant has come to be known as one of Bismarck’s most recognized landmarks.

In addition to its unique menu, the Bismarck Big Boy location also stands out amongst others within the chain as being a drive-through only restaurant, with no indoor seating whatsoever – although its former downtown location did. It is perhaps the only one in the national chain to feature drive-through service.

The restaurant is noted as having frequent long lines, which often back up onto Main Avenue. The restaurant sometimes even pokes fun at the lines in its advertisements. The restaurant imposes a “limit of 45″ on its items, as out-of-towners are known to order large quantities to freeze for future consumption.

Menu

The Bismarck Big Boy is mostly known for its Pizza Burger “Flying Style” and Hot-n-Tots, a cinnamon cola. The restaurant is also known for its gravy fries, Alpine Burger, Double Decker, and Big Boy Original. Big Boy also features such items as chicken buckets, salads, and chili.

History

Bismarck’s Big Boy was founded by traveling salesman Harley McDowell, who had seen one in another state during a business trip and decided to open one in Bismarck. When Big Boy opened in 1954, it was Bismarck’s first drive-through restaurant (then known as a drive-in). A second location soon opened downtown at the intersection of Thayer Avenue & 6th Street. The downtown location closed sometime in the 1970s and the building was demolished shortly after.

Not long after opening Bismarck’s Big Boy, McDowell also became one of the first franchise holders of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and incorporated both restaurants within the same building in a hybrid format. In the early 1970s, after KFC became more prominent, the company took up issue with McDowell for owning both a Big Boy and KFC franchise, and therefore he was forced to drop the KFC franchise. Despite ending his relationship with KFC, Bismarck’s Big Boy continues to sell menu items often associated with KFC, including gravy fries and chicken buckets.

Harley McDowell is also known as the namesake of McDowell Dam Recreation Area.

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