Mr. Fables

Mr. Fables was a regional cafeteria-style family restaurant chain that operated primarily in Western Michigan. Its history began with a licensed Kewpee restaurant opened by Gerald Boyles on North Division Avenue in Grand Rapids in 1929. Boyles developed distinctive recipes for hamburger dressing and onion-ring batter, creating the culinary foundation that later became associated with Mr. Fables. In 1963, Boyles's son John Boyles and his cousin Dick Faber took over the Kewpee business and established the Mr. Fables name. The name was formed from elements of the cousins' surnames, Faber and Boyles. The new identity positioned the restaurants as informal, family-oriented places serving burgers, fries, onion rings, and other cafeteria-style fare. The chain became especially identified with olive burgers and a proprietary hamburger dressing whose exact formula was kept secret. Its long-running advertising slogan was, "People like Mr. Fables, people like you." The chain expanded beyond its original Grand Rapids location and eventually operated restaurants in communities including Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Big Rapids, and Benton Harbor. It was also an original tenant at Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids and Westshore Mall in Holland. At its peak, Mr. Fables had 17 restaurants, giving it a substantial regional presence despite remaining concentrated in Michigan. Mr. Fables's menu included signature burgers marketed as the Deluxe or Mr. Fabulous, children's meals known as Munch Boxes, and onion rings made with a proprietary or closely controlled batter. The restaurant's burger dressing and onion-ring batter were distributed through Gordon Food Service and produced by Chadalee, a Lowell, Michigan manufacturer later associated with Litehouse Inc. Public descriptions of the burger sauce identify eggs and fresh lemon among its disclosed ingredients, but the full formula was not released. The onion-ring batter was widely believed by employees to involve Drake's batter, although the precise preparation was not publicly confirmed. In 1988, Boyles and Faber sold the chain, together with licensing rights connected to the secret recipes, to Colonel Chicken, Inc. The purchaser had been incorporated by Donald W. Reynolds and later used the names Fables-Innkeepers Management, Inc. and Grand Rapids Innkeepers Management, Inc. The sellers reportedly hoped that the new ownership would expand the business. Instead, Mr. Fables later faced increasing pressure from national restaurant chains and changing retail economics. During the late 1990s, the company's locations were sold individually, including sites in premium Grand Rapids-area real estate. Some former locations were acquired by New Beginnings Family Restaurants. The final Mr. Fables restaurant closed in 2000, ending the chain's direct operations. Its food identity survived informally through menu imitations, particularly olive burgers offered by other Michigan restaurants. The brand is also associated with a later claim that Bill Lewis, owner of Yesterdog and a former Mr. Fables employee, held the Mr. Fables trademark and could potentially seek access to the original recipes if the concept were revived. A documented relaunch, however, did not occur in the supplied reference material.

Mr. Fables developed from a Kewpee restaurant operation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1929, Gerald Boyles opened a licensed Kewpee location on North Division Avenue. During the restaurant's Kewpee period, Boyles created two recipes that later became central to the Mr. Fables identity: a hamburger dressing and an onion-ring batter. Their precise formulations were treated as trade secrets. In 1963, Gerald Boyles's son John Boyles and his cousin Dick Faber purchased the family Kewpee business and renamed it Mr. Fables. The name combined parts of the cousins' surnames, Faber and Boyles. The restaurant adopted a family-oriented identity and became known for olive burgers, signature dressing, onion rings, and the slogan, "People like Mr. Fables, people like you." Its menu also included children's Munch Box meals with toys. Over the following decades, the chain expanded throughout Western Michigan. Locations operated in Grand Rapids, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Big Rapids, and Benton Harbor. Mr. Fables was an original tenant at Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids and Westshore Mall in Holland. At its largest reported size, the chain had 17 restaurants. In 1988, Boyles and Faber sold the chain to Colonel Chicken, Inc., while licensing the secret recipes on the condition that the recipes remain confidential. Colonel Chicken had been incorporated by Donald W. Reynolds. The ownership organization subsequently used the names Fables-Innkeepers Management, Inc. and Grand Rapids Innkeepers Management, Inc. The sellers reportedly expected the transaction to support further growth. The business later struggled against national restaurant chains. During the late 1990s, its restaurant properties were sold one by one, including prominent Grand Rapids-area sites. Some former locations were acquired by New Beginnings Family Restaurants. The last Mr. Fables restaurant closed in 2000. The recipes retained cultural value after the closure. The hamburger dressing and onion-ring batter had been distributed through Gordon Food Service and produced by Chadalee at its Lowell facility, with Chadalee later associated with Litehouse Inc. Only limited ingredient information was publicly disclosed for the burger sauce, including eggs and fresh lemon. The complete recipes remained undisclosed in the supplied sources. Other Michigan restaurants subsequently offered olive burgers resembling the Mr. Fables style, and the Filling Station reportedly used the name Mr. Fabulous Burger for an imitation offering. The restaurant's trademark was later associated with Bill Lewis, a former Mr. Fables employee and owner of Yesterdog, although no documented reopening is identified.

• 2000

  The final restaurant closes

  [1]Mr. Fablesen.wikipedia.org

  After locations were sold individually during the late 1990s, the last Mr. Fables restaurant closed in 2000.

• 1988

  The chain is sold to Colonel Chicken

  [1]Mr. Fablesen.wikipedia.org

  Boyles and Faber sold Mr. Fables and licensed the associated secret recipes to Colonel Chicken, Inc.

• 1963

  The Mr. Fables name is established

  [1]Mr. Fablesen.wikipedia.org

  John Boyles and Dick Faber acquired the Kewpee business and renamed it Mr. Fables, using a name derived from their surnames.

• 1929

  Gerald Boyles opens a Kewpee restaurant

  [1]Mr. Fablesen.wikipedia.org

  Gerald Boyles opened a licensed Kewpee location on North Division Avenue in Grand Rapids, establishing the restaurant operation from which Mr. Fables later developed.

A family-oriented regional restaurant chain offering affordable cafeteria-style American food, differentiated by olive burgers, distinctive hamburger dressing, secret onion-ring batter, and a friendly community-focused advertising identity.

• Burger

  Olive burgers

  Olive burgers were Mr. Fables's best-known menu specialty and a defining part of its regional identity. The burgers were associated with the chain's proprietary hamburger dressing, which was commonly understood to include chopped or prepared olives but whose complete recipe remained secret. The style became influential enough that other Michigan restaurants later offered similar olive burgers after the chain disappeared.

• Burger

  Mr. Fabulous Burger

  The Mr. Fabulous was one of the signature burger formats associated with the chain, alongside the Deluxe. Its name became sufficiently recognizable that the Filling Station, a restaurant connected with the Mr. Burger business, later used Mr. Fabulous Burger for an offering intended to mimic the former Mr. Fables style.

• Sauce · 1929

  Hamburger dressing

  Mr. Fables hamburger dressing was one of two recipes developed by Gerald Boyles during the Kewpee period. It was used as a signature burger sauce and was distributed through Gordon Food Service. The manufacturer disclosed only limited information, including eggs and fresh lemon; the full formula was maintained as a secret.

• Side dish · 1929

  Onion rings

  Onion rings were another enduring Mr. Fables specialty, distinguished by a proprietary batter developed during the original Kewpee operation. The batter was distributed through Gordon Food Service. Employees reportedly suspected that Drake's batter was involved, but the exact recipe and preparation were not publicly established.

• Children's meal

  Munch Box

  The Munch Box was Mr. Fables's children's meal offering. It combined a child-oriented food package with toys and formed part of the chain's family-restaurant positioning.

• 1998

  Sale of restaurant locationsStrategy

  Background

  Mr. Fables faced growing competition from national restaurant chains and pressure on its regional restaurant model.

  Action taken

  The company's locations were sold individually, including properties in prominent Grand Rapids-area sites.

  Aftermath

  Some locations went to New Beginnings Family Restaurants, and the final Mr. Fables restaurant closed in 2000.

  Source

• 1988

  Sale of the chain to Colonel Chicken, Inc.M&A

  Background

  After decades of operation and regional expansion, the founders sought a new owner that could potentially grow the chain.

  Action taken

  Boyles and Faber sold the chain and licensed its secret recipes to Colonel Chicken, Inc., subject to confidentiality conditions.

  Aftermath

  The ownership structure later operated under Fables-Innkeepers Management, Inc. and Grand Rapids Innkeepers Management, Inc. The hoped-for expansion did not prevent the chain from later contracting and closing.

  Source

• 1963

  Rebrand from Kewpee to Mr. FablesStrategy

  Background

  John Boyles and Dick Faber took over the family Kewpee operation and sought to establish their own regional restaurant identity.

  Action taken

  They renamed the business Mr. Fables, using a name derived from Faber and Boyles.

  Aftermath

  The new brand expanded across Western Michigan and became associated with olive burgers, secret recipes, and family-oriented restaurant service.

  Source

1. 1Mr. Fablesen.wikipedia.org