As Big Boy's new owners aim for a comeback, the change comes in small moves — taking MSG out of seasoned salt, for example — and large ones, like paying off $34 million in debt.

The Warren-based restaurant chain's CEO led a group of local investors that bought Big Boy Restaurants International LLC last fall. Now called Big Boy Restaurant Group LLC, the company plans a slew of improvements centering on more cost-effective expansion, a food overhaul and more effective marketing.

Still, a comeback will be a tall order for the 83-year-old icon that has shrunk to a sliver of its former self.

A main challenge could be assuring customers, especially Michiganders, that Big Boy hasn't disappeared, despite restaurant closings, CEO and co-owner David Crawford said. The chain is down from around 149 locations in 2009 (23 company-owned) to 75 now, 14 of which are company-owned.

Crawford has a goal: He wants to grow Big Boy back to 100 restaurants in two years. His "reach goal" is 200 in five to seven years.

The chain plans to open five locations in Michigan this year: A new fast-casual model in Southfield targeted for the week of Aug. 19, a Garden City restaurant that opened in March, a concession stand in Fraser, and two more in Muskegon and Okemos.

Most existing locations are in Michigan, though the chain has some in Ohio, California and North Dakota, according to a location map on its website.

Big Boy Restaurant Group now owns the Big Boy brand, name and assets, as well as Bob's Big Boy in California and the Big Boy Food Group in Warren that makes soups, salad dressings, baked goods and mayonnaise. That's aside from around 120 stores owned separately in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

An additional 274 operate in Japan independently. Big Boy also signed a seven-country deal with Singapore-based Destination Eats to build a minimum of 70 restaurants, though it's aiming for 1,000.