Big John Steak & Onion facts for kids

Big John Steak & Onion, Inc.

Type	Private
Industry	Fast Food Restaurants
Founded	1963/1973
Founder	John E. Klobucar
Headquarters	Mt. Morris Township, MI , USA
Number of locations	16
Area served	Mid Michigan
Key people	John D. Klobucar
Products	submarine sandwiches
Number of employees	75

Big John Steak & Onion is a popular fast-food chain. It is also known as BJs & Onion or Steak and Onion. This company sells delicious sub sandwiches. It is a famous restaurant in the Flint Area of Michigan. The founder, John E. Klobucar, was nicknamed "Big John" by his friends. That's how the company got its name!

The Story of Big John Steak & Onion

How Big John Steak & Onion Started

John E. Klobucar was a smart businessman. In 1963, he opened the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Flint, Michigan. This was the first KFC outside of the Detroit area. He officially started his business on August 16, 1967. It was first called Slick-Chick, Inc.

A few years later, in 1973, Klobucar started Big John Steak & Onion. This was the first restaurant in the Flint Area to serve submarine sandwiches. The very first Big John Steak & Onion opened on Dort Highway. It is still open in the same spot today!

What Was on the First Menu?

The first menu at Big John Steak & Onion was simple. It had the famous Steak and Onion sandwich. There were also two other kinds of sub sandwiches. You could also get a Koegel hot dog.

John's brother, Joseph "Joe" Klobucher, also opened a Big John Chicken & Sandwich Factory. This was a franchise in Caro in 1973. On September 16, 1975, the company changed its name. Slick-Chick, Inc. became Big John Steak & Onion, Inc.

Growing the Restaurant Chain

John Klobucar later opened another KFC restaurant in Owosso. But he sold the KFC location in Flint. By May 2011, Big John Steak & Onion had grown a lot. It became a chain with 15 stores. These stores were all across Mid-Michigan.

When John Klobucar passed away in 2011, his brother Joe Klobucar took over. Joe became the new Chairman, President, and CEO of the company.

What's on the Menu?

Big John Steak & Onion is famous for its tasty food.

• The steak and onion sandwich is what the restaurant is best known for. It's a classic!
• They also have a special Red Sauce. This sauce has a sweet and slightly spicy taste. The recipe for this unique sauce came from John Kish. He owned a well-known restaurant in Downtown Flint called Uncle Bob's Diner.