Big John Steak & Onion

Big John Steak & Onion, aka BJs & Onion or Steak and Onion[2] and formerly Slick-Chick, Inc., is a regional sub sandwich chain.[1] The name came from a nickname that the founder, John E. Klobucar, had received from his friends. The chain is considered a restaurant icon of the Flint Area.[3]

Big John Steak & Onion, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryFast Food Restaurants[1]
Founded1963/1973
FounderJohn E. Klobucar
Headquarters
Mt. Morris Township, MI[1]
,
USA
Number of locations
16
Area served
Central Michigan
Key people
John D. Klobucar[1]
Productssubmarine sandwiches
Number of employees
75[1]
Websitewww.bigjohnsteakandonion.net

History

John E. Klobucar opened Flint, Michigan's first Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1963, the first outside of the Detroit area.[3][4] He incorporated his business on August 16, 1967 as Slick-Chick, Inc.[5] A decade later in 1973, Klobucar started Big John Steak and Onion,[3][4] the first restaurant to serve submarine sandwiches in the Flint Area.[3] The first location was opened on Dort Highway, near Court Street, and is still operating there. The original menu was the Steak and Onion plus 2 other subs and a Koegel hot dog.[6] His brother Joseph "Joe" Klobucher opened Big John Chicken & Sandwich Factory franchise where he lived in Caro in 1973.[3][6] On September 16, 1975, Slick-Chick changed its name to Big John Steak & Onion, Inc.[7] Klobucar later opened a KFC in Owosso, but sold the Flint location.

The restaurant grew into a chain of 15 stores across Mid-Michigan by May 2011, when Klobucar died.[3] Then Joe Klobucar took over as Chairman/President/CEO.[6]

  • steak and onion sandwich, for which it is best known for[6]
  • Red Sauce, a cocktail sauce with a sweet/hot taste, its recipe is credited to John Kish, owner of Uncle Bob's Diner, a well known former Downtown Flint restaurant[6]

References
  1. "Big John Steak & Onion Incorporated". Manta.com. Manta Media Inc. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  2. Assumed Names: Steak and Onion. State of Michigan. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  3. Confer, Karen (May 12, 2011). "Founder of Flint restaurant Big John Steak and Onion dies". The Flint Journal. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  4. Hillaker, Allison (2011-05-13). "The founder of 'Big Johns Steak and Onion' has died". NBC25. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  5. Articles of Incorporation of Slick-Chick, Inc. State of Michigan. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  6. Dennison, Cheryl (September 3, 2019). "A Flint Tradition Since 1972 Big John Steak & Onion". My City Magazine. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  7. Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Slick-Chick, Inc. State of Michigan. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
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