By: Melody Simmons

Gino’s, the classic local fried chicken and burger joint named after a Colt legend, is making a comeback as Gino’s Burgers & Chicken.

The home of the Gino Giant — a large burger that some say was the precursor to the Big Mac at McDonald’s and the Whopper at the BK Lounge — will soon open its doors in King of Prussia, Pa. and later on in Baltimore. Locations are presently being scouted in and around the Beltway, foodie sources say.

The old red-roof restaurants, still dear to the hearts of many in Baltimore and immortalized in film by Barry Levinson, was founded here in 1957 by Colt greats Alan Ameche and team captain and NFL Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti and their partner, Louis C. Fischer.

Word of the burgers and chicken served there spread faster than you could say “finger-licking good,” and within years, there were Gino’s in Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware and the chain had formed a business alliance with Col. Harland Sanders, the white-haired founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. In all, the number of Gino’s restaurants grew to 500.

In 1966, the Gino Giant was born. It was a triple-decker burger of high celebrity for its time, still remembered by many.

The new venture will bring together many of the old Gino’s crowd: Marchetti and Tom Romano, who worked his way up from the grill to become chief operating officer when Marriott Corp. bought out the G in 1982. Romano recently signed on to lead the rebirth. Marchetti, who played in arguably the greatest NFL game ever –- the 1958 championship game, Colts vs. the New York Giants — will be at each opening offering a dose of nostalgia with those fries.

The new Gino’s hasn’t opened its doors yet, but already the restaurant has a following – in a blog and on Facebook.

So far, more than 2,000 fans have signed on to receive updates on the budding burger empire re-do.