PrintMembers of the Schoenbaum family, who gathered Sunday to commemorate the humble beginnings of their family's restaurant chain, said they'll go to great lengths to keep up a Big Boy statue that has caused conflict over trademark rights.
Dozens of people gathered Sunday near Patrick Street to dedicate the statue on the site where Shoney's founder Alex Schoenbaum opened his first restaurant in 1947.
Towering 14 feet above them was the Big Boy statue, in his red- and white-checkered overalls, erected as a tribute to the family's first restaurant, the Parkette Drive-In.
"I'm pleased our little big guy is still standing," said Emily Schoenbaum, the daughter of the late founder, who organized and designed the memorial.
Schoenbaum said the statue was bought from a manufacturer in Michigan two years ago and planned as an integral part of the memorial since she conceived the idea.
Less than two weeks ago, an attorney for Big Boy International sent a letter to Schoenbaum saying the Big Boy statue was trademarked and asking that it be taken down.
It has not been, much to the delight of the crowd gathered Sunday.
"Many museums have exhibits of trademarked names," Emily Schoenbaum said. "If we need to make a big sign that says 'museum,' that's what we'll put up."
Sunday's celebration was a reunion of sorts for many fans and former employees of the Schoenbaum restaurants.
Many expressed a desire for the Big Boy statue to remain standing.
Tammi Stollings, a representative from Gov. Joe Manchin's office, read a statement from the governor expressing his appreciation for the Schoenbaums and their legacy. As she finished, a man in the audience asked her to tell the governor not to let anyone take the Big Boy off his perch, a request that drew a loud cheer from the crowd.
"Sir, I will relay your message," Stollings said.
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, who started working at Shoney's in Kanawha City when he was 16, said he remembers a Big Boy statue being prominently displayed at the restaurant.
"When I worked there, the statue was right out front," he said. "They can't tell us we can't have it. It belongs right here."
Betty Schoenbaum, the widow of Alex, explained how the Big Boy statue first came to be associated with Shoney's.
She said that in 1951 her husband contacted Bob Wian, of Bob's Big Boy in California, and David Frisch, of Frisch's Big Boy of Ohio, and the three decided to incorporate the name into a franchise. They divided the country into territories and moved the franchise into different states.
The franchise became popular and Schoenbaum eventually wanted to open more restaurants in other states, so he split from Big Boy restaurants in 1976.
The name Shoney's was chosen for his new chain through a write-in contest, and the winner was awarded a new Cadillac.
Memorabilia from the restaurants' history now fills three displays on the monument. There are menus featuring Shoney's breakfast items for 50 cents, along with vinyl records, pictures and newspaper clippings about the eateries.
The Parkette Drive-In, the predecessor to Shoney's, started on the site off Kanawha Boulevard, near Patrick Street, in 1947. The first restaurant was a square cinder block building that was torn down six months after it opened because it was too small to hold all the customers coming in.
The second Parkette, which the memorial is modeled after, was built and stood on that spot until it was torn down in 1974.
"Here, dreams were made," said Emily Schoenbaum, who was 8 years old when the building was torn down. "Here, an empire was built.
"This monument is the closest I could come to a recreation of the second Parkette."
Members of the Light Opera Guild attended Sunday's celebration dressed in costumes from the 1950s and served Parkette burgers that were - until the trademark warning - going to be called "Big Boys." A disc jockey spun authentic vinyl records to entertain the crowd.
Oral historian Bob Webb collected memories from people who attended Sunday's tribute and recorded them on a compact disc. Those will be added to the West Virginia historical archives, he said.
The Schoenbaums have contributed millions of dollars to community projects around Charleston.
Betty Schoenbaum expressed gratitude to employees, friends and family for helping the franchise grow so that she could fulfill her husband's wishes of giving to those less fortunate.
"Without you, we wouldn't be where we are today," she told those gathered around. "I hope to do more for the community.
"God, let me live longer so I can get it done," she said.
TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL PHOTO
Emily Schoenbaum, daughter of Shoney's founder Alex Schoenbaum, stands in front of the Shoney's monument with Jack Bird, who started as a dishwasher and moved up to manager at the original restaurant.
TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL
Sally Daugherty, a member of the Charleston Light Opera Guild, dressed in 1950s-era clothing and served Parkette Burgers to the crowd at Sunday's reunion celebration. Daugherty wore the football sweater her father, George, earned at West Virginia University.
George Daugherty presented Betty Schoenbaum with a tie bearing the Big Boy icon he has had for almost five decades.
Contact writer Cara Bailey at cara.bailey@dailymail.com or 304-348-4834.
