In the 2024-25 season, the Cleveland Monsters rebranded to the Pierogies for one weekend only – and saw one of their best showings in Monsters' hockey history!  

While the Pierogies won’t be back (this season...), they’re looking to wow fans with another Cleveland food staple: the Polish Boy. 

Many assume this hearty handheld to be of Polish origin but the only thing Polish here is the sausage used as its base. 

Traditionally, the Polish Boy is a kielbasa sausage on a bun and then loaded with barbeque sauce, coleslaw, and fries.  

Entirely Cleveland in its inception, the Polish Boy has been given many different origin stories, but Virgil Whitmore Sr. is commonly the name credited with the creation. 

Originally from Texas, Whitmore Sr. moved to Cleveland as a boy and would open his first restaurant in the 1930s. Shortly after the divestment of that eatery, he opened Whitmore’s Bar-B-Q, which remains to this day* and is currently being operated by his grandsons, Vance and Virgil Whitmore.  

Hoping to come up with a new menu item, Whitmore Sr. threw together a few of the items he had on hand - Kielbasa, slaw, French fries, and his famous BBQ sauce – and the Polish Boy was officially born.  

While many iterations of the Polish Boy have existed since the inception, including the Polish Girl (made famous by Michael Symon), the original build remains a cornerstone of the Cleveland food scene and is a must have for anyone who visits the city.  

Locals and visitors alike will find no shortage of Polish Boy eateries to explore including notable shops such as Real Smoq’ed BBQ on Lorain, B&M BBQ on St. Clair and, of course, Whitmore’s on Kinsman Road. 

In a season that has been wrapped in Cleveland history, it comes as no surprise that the Monsters would choose to don this persona in celebration of another Northeast Ohio legacy.  

On a night dedicated to an item so quintessentially Cleveland, fans planning to attend the game can expect to see unique merchandise, immersive in game elements, and a mascot reveal unlike any other.  

Missed this delicious jersey reveal? Check it out HERE! 

Interested in getting your hands on some Polish Boy merch before game day? Head out to Center Ice at Pinecrest (400 Park Ave #180, Beachwood, OH 44122) on Saturday, March 28th at 10AM to be among the first wave of fans to get access to this smokin' collection! 

Be sure to snag tickets to this eclectic night and don’t miss out on all the action! Visit clevelandmonsters.com/schedule for more information. 

*Whitmore’s B-B-Q experienced a devastating fire on March 3rd, 2026, and are temporarily closed as they work to rebuild.