Fatburger
Fatburger | ||
Company type | Subsidiary | |
Industry | Fast casual restaurant | |
Founded | 1947 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
Founder | Lovie Yancey | |
Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California, U.S. | |
Number of locations | 182 (2021) | |
Area served | Worldwide | |
Key people | Andrew Wiederhorn (Chairman & CEO) Donald J. Berchtold (President & COO) | |
Products | Parent FAT Brands | |
Website | fatburger |
Fatburger North America Inc. (
History
Fatburger was founded by
Fatburger remained a mostly California-based chain until the late 1990s, when it began an expansion in North America. On August 15, 2003, Fog Cutter Capital Group completed a $7 million investment and financing package for the company. Fatburger operates or franchises over 150 Fatburger restaurants worldwide with over 300 more planned for future development.[6] For several months in 2006, the company was barred from selling additional franchises in California, due to chairperson Wiederhorn's felony convictions.[7]
In 1992, Fatburger gained national attention after being referenced in the hit song "It Was a Good Day" by rapper and actor Ice Cube.[8] It was also referenced by The Notorious B.I.G. in the song "Going Back to Cali".
In 2008, Fatburger opened its first restaurant in a sports stadium, the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field.[9] Fatburger also opened its first location in Dubai, U.A.E., (today there are eight).[10] There are also Fatburger eateries in Beijing, PR China.
In January 2013, Fatburger opened its first branch in Karachi, Pakistan.[11] Owing to the success of the burgers and positive response in Pakistan, Fatburger opened its biggest flagship outlet globally in June 2013 in Lahore.[12] In July 2015, a branch in Lahore was shut down by authorities due to health and food safety reasons.[13]
Locations
Fatburger has locations in five western states in the United States and Canada, and new locations in China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq (including
Partnerships
Former professional basketball player Magic Johnson, through Johnson Development Corporation, was one of the owners of the parent company.[17] Former talk show host Montel Williams co-owns several Fatburger restaurants in Colorado.[18] Bay Area musician E-40 also had a stake in the company as a franchise owner, by opening the first San Francisco Bay Area Fatburger restaurant in Pleasant Hill, which is now closed.[19] Actor and musician Queen Latifah also at one point partnered with[vague] Fatburger.[20]
In 2007, rapper
In popular culture
Fatburger has been featured and/or seen in TV series and movies:
- Sanford and Son frequently mentioned Fatburger in conversation.[23]
- In the 2001 film Rat Race, the Pear family were sitting inside a Fatburger.[24] Later, Randy Pear buys sleeping pills and puts them in his family's milkshakes.
- In the 2016 film Get a Job, Hank Diller is at his desk with food from Fatburger.[25]
- On season 1 episode entitled "Tickets for a Queue" of the Apple TV+ series Trying, Jason and Erica are having a meal at Fatburger.[26]
See also
References
- ^ Herron, Bianca (August 9, 2017). "Fatburger". Food & Drink International. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-55862-509-9. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ Hanbury, Mary (August 3, 2017). "A burger chain that Kanye West and Nicki Minaj are obsessed with is taking over America". Business Insider. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ Jargon, Julie (May 31, 2017). "Diners Are Finding $13 Burgers Hard to Swallow". Fox Business. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ McClellan, Marisa (January 26, 2008). "Fatburger founder dies at the age of 96". Slashfood. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ Kulikowski, Laurie (June 12, 2013). "Fatburger Opens First Restaurant in New York City". Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ Sparks, Janet (December 1, 2006). "Has Fatburger Resolved Its Nasty Little Problem?". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- ^ a b Elliott, Farley (April 16, 2015). "A History of Rap's Love For Fatburger". Eater Los Angeles. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ^ Arizona Diamondbacks Score Big on Fatburger Franchise Retrieved on March 16, 2011
- ^ The Next Frontier: Burger Chains to the Middle East Retrieved on April 24, 2014
- ^ "Fatburger opens in Karachi". The Express Tribune. January 5, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "For Fatburger, Lahore's 'flagship' outlet will be a trendsetter". The Express Tribune. May 26, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "Fatburger: Too thin on hygiene! | Pakistan Today".
- ^ "Find A Fatburger". Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "LA-born Fatburger says it's coming to North Texas, again". Dallas News. October 6, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
- ^ "Fatburger is finally coming: First Texas location slated to open in early 2020". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 30, 2019.
- ^ "Fatbuger facts, Magic Johnson Owner of parent Company". Answers.com. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
- ^ "TV Show Host Montel Williams Buys into Fatburger Franchise". Montelshow.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
- ^ Current location of Fatburger Headquarters Archived February 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kanye West Buys Rights To 10 Fatburger Restaurants. HipHopDx, November 23, 2010.
- ^ "Kanye bringing Fatburgers to town; In-N-Out fans dream on". The Stew - Chicago Tribune. August 13, 2008. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Kanye West Shuts Down His Chicago Fatburger Restaurant". Starpulse.com. February 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis (February 2, 2008). "Fatburger founder expanded South L.A. eatery into chain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Fatburger Restaurant in Rat Race (2001)". Product Placement Blog. December 11, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ "Fatburger – Get a Job (2016)". Product Placement Blog. April 22, 2016.
- ^ "Fatburger Fast Casual Restaurant and Coca-Cola in Trying S01E03 "Tickets for a Queue" (2020)". Product Placement Blog. May 2, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.