Big John Grocery Clerk in Metropolis, Illinois

Big John Grocery is a small chain of grocery stores that have a larger than life Big John statue out front (nicknamed the Big John Grocery Clerk). From what I can tell only a few superstores currently left out there (although I am not sure how many there ever were) and many of the statues that still exist are now at completely different grocery stores or separate locations all together.

This Big John Grocery Clerk in Metropolis, Illinois (and all of the rest) stand between 28 and 30 feet tall, making the one in Metropolis actually quite a bit taller than the Superman statue that the town is known for. These statues are often mistaken for muffler men, but they are actually quite different.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

Originally, the Big John Grocery statues wore checked shirts and blue jeans. They were cast by General Sign Co. (1939-2010) in the 1960s.

Up until 2014 this Big John wore blue jeans, a red shirt, a white apron, and giant black shoes and carried a giant grocery bag in each arm heaping with items from his shopping trip.

Unfortunately, in August 2014, this big man lost his right arm. But he was repaired and restored in May 2015 with a slight makeover: he now wears tan pants and his right arm is free from groceries, leaving it extended to wave at passing cars.

Regardless, I could really use someone like him around next time I need to shop for groceries!

Photos of the Big John Grocery Clerk in 2007:

I first saw the Big John statue on July 14, 2007, on an Illinois road trip that took me to Metropolis, Illinois.

Big John Grocery Clerk in Metropolis, Illinois
Big John Grocery Clerk in Metropolis, Illinois
Big John Grocery Clerk in Metropolis, Illinois
Big John Grocery Clerk in Metropolis, Illinois

Photos of the Big John Grocery Clerk in 2009:

I saw the Illinois roadside attraction again onMay 2, 2009, when I took a road trip to Metropolis to watch an ice cream eating contest.

Big John Grocery Clerk, a roadside attraction in Metropolis, Illinois
Big John Grocery Clerk, a roadside attraction in Metropolis, Illinois
Big John Grocery Clerk, a roadside attraction in Metropolis, Illinois

If you love this Illinois roadside attraction and want to see more like it, you can find another Big John Grocery Clerk roadside attraction (and a few of his buddies) at Glenn Goode’s Big People in Gainesville, Texas.

Big John Grocery Clerk statue at the Big John Grocery

Location: Big John Grocery, 1200 E 5th St, Metropolis, IL 62960
Cost: Free to see
Hours: Always Visible

Pin this Illinois roadside attraction to save for your road trip itinerary!

Big John Grocery Clerk statue, a weird roadside attraction outside of a superstore in Superman's Metropolis, Illinois, that is often mistaken for a muffler man. Visit this funny roadside attraction on your Illinois road trip and add it to your travel itinerary and bucket lists.
#IllinoisRoadsideAttractions #IllinoisRoadsideAttraction #RoadsideAttractions #RoadsideAttraction #RoadTrip #IllinoisRoadTrip #IllinoisWeekendGetaways #IllinoisRoadTripItinerary #WeirdRoadsideAttractions #RoadTripStops
Big John Grocery Clerk statue, a weird roadside attraction outside of a superstore in Superman’s Metropolis, Illinois, that is often mistaken for a muffler man. Visit this funny roadside attraction on your Illinois road trip and add it to your travel itinerary and bucket lists.

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Valerie Bromann

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Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book, she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: March 19, 2023
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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.