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Fatburger

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Fatburger
Company typeWholly owned subsidiary, Public (OTC Pink: FCCG)
IndustryFast food restaurants
FoundedLos Angeles, California, U.S. (1947)
HeadquartersBeverly Hills, California, U.S.
Number of locations
120 + Worldwide
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Andrew Wiederhorn (Chairman & CEO) Donald J. Berchtold (President & COO)
ProductsBurgers, french fries, soft drinks, milkshakes
Number of employees
896
ParentFog Cutter Capital Group
Websitefatburger.com
Fatburger restaurant in Los Angeles, California

Fatburger is a fast casual restaurant chain. It uses the slogan The Last Great Hamburger Stand. While it is a fast food restaurant, the food is cooked and made to order and the restaurant has a liquor license. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California.[1]

In addition to the United States, the chain operates in 11 other countries.[2]

History

Fatburger was founded by Lovie Yancey on Western Avenue in Los Angeles, California in 1947. It was originally named "Mr. Fatburger" until the "Mr." was removed by Yancey in 1952. At that time she bought out her start-up partners and retained ownership until 1990, keeping only the original store for herself.[3]

Fatburger remained mostly a California chain until the late 1990s, when it began an expansion in North America.

Forbes Magazine published an article on 15 October 2007 titled "Celebrities love Fatburger - Juicy Tale" promoting all the Hollywood celebrities who have bought into the global giant.[4] Fatburger was also a touchstone in West Coast hip-hop well before hip-hop moguls began opening restaurants in the franchise. Ice Cube mentions it in his hit song "It Was A Good Day": "No helicopter looking for a murder / Two in the mornin' got the Fatburger." In the song 'Late Night' by Tupac Shakur and DJ Quik, Tupac says 'The club be poppin so I'm stoppin at the Fat Burger'. Fatburger was sometimes referenced even by East Coast rappers as emblematic of California culture. The Notorious B.I.G. dedicated a line to Fatburger in 'Goin back to Cali', where he says 'take her to Fatburger', and the Beastie Boys mention it in "The New Style": "I chill at White Castle 'cause it's the best / But I'm fly at Fatburger when I'm way out west."

In 2008, Fatburger opened its first restaurant in a sports stadium, the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field.[5]

In January 2013, Fatburger opened its first branch in Karachi, Pakistan.[6] Owing to the success of the burgers and positive response by Pakistanis, Fatburger opened its biggest flagship outlet globally on June, 2013 in Lahore.[7] Fatburger's CEO Andy Wiederhorn was also present at the launching ceremony.[8] Fatburger plans to invest up to US$ 7.2 million and open a total of five outlets in the country. The chain will open one store in Islamabad this year and two more next year in Faisalabad and Lahore.[9]

The April 5th, 2013 episode of Undercover Boss featured Andy Wiederhorn, CEO of Fatburger.

Partnerships

Former professional basketball player Magic Johnson, through Johnson Development Corporation, was one of the owners of the parent company.[10] Former talk show host Montel Williams co-owns several Fatburger restaurants in Colorado.[11] Bay Area rapper 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.[12] Queen Latifah also at one point partnered with Fatburger.[13]

On August 15, 2003, Fog Cutter Capital Group completed a $6 million investment and financing package for the company. As of 2011 Fatburger operates or franchises 101 restaurants, and Fog Cutter has announced the company will open 30 more in 2011.[14]

In 2007, Rapper Kanye West's restaurant company. KW Foods LLC, struck a deal to open up to 10 Fatburger restaurants in Chicago.[15]Ultimately, in 2009, only two locations actually opened. In February 2011, West shut down the Fatburger located in Orland Park.[16] Later in 2011 the remaining Beverly location also was shuttered.[17] Hip-hop musician Pharrell, in partnership with Fatburger, opened several Fatburger restaurants in China in 2007 and 2008.[18]

Locations

Fatburger in the food court of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California

US

International

References

  1. ^ "Contact California World Headquarters for prospering Fatburger." Fatburger. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Fatburger: Locations by State
  3. ^ McClellan, Marisa (2008-01-26). "Fatburger founder dies at the age of 96". Slashfood. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  4. ^ Forbes Magazine Retrieved on March 17, 2011
  5. ^ Arizona Diamondbacks Score Big on Fatburger Franchise Retrieved on March 16, 2011
  6. ^ [1] "Fatburger opens in Karachi"
  7. ^ [2] "For Fatburger, Lahore’s ‘flagship’ outlet will be a trendsetter"
  8. ^ [3] "Andy Wiederhorn in Pakistan"
  9. ^ [4] "Investment in Pakistan"
  10. ^ Fatbuger facts, Magic Johnson Owner of parent Company
  11. ^ TV Show Host Montel Williams Buys into Fatburger Franchise
  12. ^ Current location of Fatburger Headquarters
  13. ^ Kanye West Buys Rights To 10 Fatburger Restaurants. HipHopDx, November 23, 2010.
  14. ^ Jeff Manning, "Wiederhorn to get rid of The Ivy: The scandal-linked executive decides to sell one of his last ties to Portland", The Oregonian, 28 July 2011, p. A1+
  15. ^ Kayne West Brings Fatburger to Chicago
  16. ^ "Kanye West Shuts Down His Chicago Fatburger Restaurant". Starpulse.com. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  17. ^ http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/cutting_the_fat_HUFwaRqz4g9IIIsi6oUeBL
  18. ^ Hip Hop Music Mogul Deals Fatburger as an Investment
  19. ^ Mangi, Faseeh (2013-01-07). "Pakistan Loving Fatburger as Fast Food Boom Ignores Drones". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
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