The Big Baby's South Side spread (1967-present)
Greek immigrant Nicholas Vagenas opened the first Nicky's hot dog stand in Chicago in 1967 and created the Big Baby, a double cheeseburger with grilled onions. He opened nine locations over four decades, usually selling them. Other entrepreneurs, many former Nicky's workers, opened their own Nicky's and Big Baby-serving restaurants across the South Side.
The Big Baby became a South Side staple, with dozens of unconnected restaurants serving nearly identical menus.
The name spread without trademark protection; owners say it's now 'open game' for anyone to open a Nicky's and sell Big Babies.
This license for a business named Big Baby's continues that informal tradition of unconnected restaurants sharing the name and its menu.
