Editing Fatburger

{{Short description|American restaurant chain}}
{{distinguish|Fatberg|Fattburger}}
{{pp-sock|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| trade_name = Fatburger
| name = Fatburger North America Inc.
| logo = Fatburger logo.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| image = Image:Fatburger.jpg
| image_caption = Fatburger restaurant in Los Feliz, Los Angeles
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1947}}<br />[[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| location = [[Beverly Hills, California]], U.S.
| locations = 182 (2021)
| area_served = Worldwide
| founder = [[Lovie Yancey]]
| key_people = Ken Kuick (Co-CEO)<br/>Rob Rosen (Co-CEO)<br/>Thayer D. Wiederhorn (COO)
| industry = [[Fast casual restaurant]]
| products = [[Hamburger|Burgers]], [[french fries]], [[soft drink]]s, [[milkshakes]]
| num_employees = >4,000 (2017)<ref name=fd>{{cite web |url=http://www.fooddrink-magazine.com/sections/restaurants/2263-fatburger-2 |title=Fatburger |publisher=Food & Drink International |first=Bianca |last=Herron |date=August 9, 2017 |access-date=March 18, 2018 |archive-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319004058/http://www.fooddrink-magazine.com/sections/restaurants/2263-fatburger-2 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| parent = [[FAT Brands]]
| net_income = 
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| website = {{URL|fatburger.com}}
}}

'''Fatburger North America Inc.''' ([[doing business as]] '''Fatburger''') is an American [[fast casual restaurant]] chain owned by [[FAT Brands]]. Its tagline is ''The Last Great Hamburger Stand''. While it is a fast-food restaurant, the food is cooked and made to order. Some Fatburger restaurants have [[liquor license]]s as well as "fat bars". Its franchise headquarters are located in [[Beverly Hills, California]]. In addition to the United States, the chain operates in 19 other countries. The Fatburger menu is centered primarily on hamburgers, offering various sizes and numbers of patties, along with add-ons such as cheese, bacon and eggs.<ref>{{cite book | last=Grant | first=T. | title=International Directory of Company Histories | publisher=St. James Press | volume=64 | year=2004 | isbn=978-1-55862-509-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PUMkAQAAMAAJ | access-date=December 27, 2017 | page=122}}</ref><ref name="Hanbury 2017">{{cite web | last=Hanbury | first=Mary | title=A burger chain that Kanye West and Nicki Minaj are obsessed with is taking over America | website=Business Insider | date=August 3, 2017 | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/fatburger-is-going-public-photos-2017-8 | access-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Jargon 2017">{{cite web | last=Jargon | first=Julie | title=Diners Are Finding $13 Burgers Hard to Swallow | website=Fox Business | date=May 31, 2017 | url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2017/05/31/diners-are-finding-13-burgers-hard-to-swallow.html | access-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Fatburger morongo.jpg|thumb|right|Fatburger in the food court of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California]]
Fatburger was founded by [[Lovie Yancey]] (1912–2008) in the neighborhood of [[Exposition Park (Los Angeles)|Exposition Park]] in  Los Angeles, California, in 1947. It was originally named "Mr. Fatburger" (on behalf of Yancey's boyfriend), until Yancey removed the "Mr." in 1952. At that time, she bought out her start-up partners and retained sole ownership of the Fatburger brand until 1990, keeping and operating the original store on [[Western Avenue (Los Angeles)|Western Avenue]] along with the [[La Cienega Boulevard]] store (La Cienega/San Vicente).<ref>{{cite web|last=McClellan |first=Marisa |url=http://www.slashfood.com/2008/02/04/fatburger-founder-dies-at-the-age-of-96/ |title=Fatburger founder dies at the age of 96 |publisher=Slashfood |date=January 26, 2008 |access-date=March 3, 2013}}</ref>

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 [[Franchising|franchises]] over 150 Fatburger restaurants worldwide with over 300 more planned for future development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestreet.com/story/11947595/1/fatburger-opens-first-restaurant-in-new-york-city.html|access-date=April 25, 2014|title=Fatburger Opens First Restaurant in New York City|date=June 12, 2013|last1=Kulikowski|first1=Laurie}}</ref> For several months in 2006, the company was barred from selling additional franchises in California, due to chairperson Wiederhorn's felony convictions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluemaumau.org/has_fatburger_resolved_its_nasty_little_problem|access-date=October 1, 2013|title=Has Fatburger Resolved Its Nasty Little Problem?|date=December 1, 2006|last1=Sparks|first1=Janet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720001140/http://www.bluemaumau.org/has_fatburger_resolved_its_nasty_little_problem|archive-date=July 20, 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In 1992, Fatburger gained national attention after being referenced in the hit song "[[It Was a Good Day]]" by rapper and actor [[Ice Cube]].<ref name=eater>{{cite web|url=https://la.eater.com/2015/4/16/8433417/burger-week-fatburger-rap-history-power-hour|title=A History of Rap's Love For Fatburger|publisher=Eater Los Angeles|first=Farley|last=Elliott|date=April 16, 2015|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref> It was also referenced by [[The Notorious B.I.G.]] in the song "[[Going Back to Cali (The Notorious B.I.G. song)|Going Back to Cali]]".

In 2008, Fatburger opened its first restaurant in a sports stadium, the Arizona Diamondbacks' [[Chase Field]].<ref>[http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dining/articles/2008/04/03/20080403baseballfood0403.html Arizona Diamondbacks Score Big on Fatburger Franchise] Retrieved on March 16, 2011</ref> Fatburger also opened its first location in Dubai, U.A.E., (today there are eight).<ref>[http://eater.com/archives/2011/04/28/the-next-burger-frontier-middle-east.php The Next Frontier: Burger Chains to the Middle East] Retrieved on April 24, 2014</ref> There are also Fatburger eateries in Beijing, PR China.

In January 2013, Fatburger opened its first branch in Karachi, Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/489461/big-and-juicy-fatburger-comes-to-town/ |title=Fatburger opens in Karachi|publisher=The Express Tribune|date=2013-01-05|access-date=2014-12-24}}</ref> Owing to the success of the burgers and positive response in Pakistan, Fatburger opened its biggest flagship outlet globally in June 2013 in Lahore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/554372/for-fatburger-lahores-flagship-outlet-will-be-a-trendsetter/ |title=For Fatburger, Lahore's 'flagship' outlet will be a trendsetter|publisher=The Express Tribune|date=2013-05-26|access-date=2014-12-24}}</ref> In July 2015, a branch in Lahore was shut down by authorities due to health and food safety reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/07/24/city/lahore/fatburger-too-thin-on-hygiene/|title = Fatburger: Too thin on hygiene! &#124; Pakistan Today}}</ref>

==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 [[Iraqi Kurdistan]]), India, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Tunisia, Macau, Pakistan, Oman, Panama, Singapore, Philippines, Qatar, and Japan. In some locations, menu changes were made to conform to local customs.<ref>{{cite web|title= Find A Fatburger|url= http://www.fatburger.com/findafatburger|access-date= January 25, 2016|archive-date= January 21, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160121064112/http://www.fatburger.com/findafatburger|url-status= dead}}</ref> It will expand into Texas, in cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.<ref name="Dallas News 2017">{{cite web | title=LA-born Fatburger says it's coming to North Texas, again | website=Dallas News | date=October 6, 2017 | url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/restaurants/2017/10/06/la-born-fatburger-says-coming-north-texas | access-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, it was announced the first Texas location would be created in [[North Richland Hills, TX|North Richland Hills]].<ref name="Fort Worth Star-Telegram 2019">{{cite web | title=Fatburger is finally coming: First Texas location slated to open in early 2020 | website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram | date=September 30, 2019 | url=https://www.star-telegram.com/entertainment/restaurants/article235637787.html}}</ref>

==Partnerships==
Former professional basketball player [[Magic Johnson]], through Johnson Development Corporation, was one of the owners of the parent company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/fatburger-corporation?cat=biz-fin |title=Fatbuger facts, Magic Johnson Owner of parent Company |publisher=Answers.com |access-date=2014-04-29}}</ref> Former talk show host [[Montel Williams]] co-owns several Fatburger restaurants in Colorado.<ref name="About Montel">{{cite web |url=http://www.montelshow.com/about/montel/ |title=TV Show Host Montel Williams Buys into Fatburger Franchise |publisher=Montelshow.com |access-date=April 29, 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906045219/http://www.montelshow.com/about/montel/ |archive-date=September 6, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref name="E-40">[http://www.sixshot.com/news/8505/ Current location of Fatburger Headquarters] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221183745/http://www.sixshot.com/news/8505/ |date=February 21, 2008 }}</ref> Actor and musician [[Queen Latifah]] also at one point partnered with{{vague|date=July 2017}} Fatburger.<ref>[http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.13099/title.kanye-west-buys-rights-to-10-fatburger-restaurants Kanye West Buys Rights To 10 Fatburger Restaurants]. HipHopDx, November 23, 2010.</ref>

In 2007, rapper [[Kanye West]]'s restaurant company, KW Foods LLC, struck a deal to open up to 10 Fatburger restaurants in Chicago.<ref name="Kanye bringing Fatburgers to town">{{cite web|date=2008-08-13|title=Kanye bringing Fatburgers to town; In-N-Out fans dream on|url=http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2008/08/kanye-west-brin.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822122523/http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2008/08/kanye-west-brin.html|archive-date=2008-08-22|access-date=2021-08-31|website=The Stew - [[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=}}</ref> Ultimately, in 2009, only two locations actually opened. In February 2011, West shut down the Fatburger located in [[Orland Park, Illinois|Orland Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2011/02/01/kanye_west_shuts_down_his_chicago_fatb|title=Kanye West Shuts Down His Chicago Fatburger Restaurant|publisher=Starpulse.com|date=2011-02-01|access-date=2014-12-24|archive-date=July 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711135046/http://www.starpulse.com/kanye-west-shuts-down-his-chicago-fatburger-restaurant-1848033086.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> R&B musician [[Pharrell]], in partnership with Fatburger, opened several Fatburger restaurants in China in 2007 and 2008.<ref name=eater/>

==In popular culture==
Fatburger has been featured and/or seen in TV series and movies:

*''[[Sanford and Son]]'' frequently mentioned Fatburger in conversation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLellan |first=Dennis |date=2008-02-02 |title=Fatburger founder expanded South L.A. eatery into chain |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-02-me-yancey2-story.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
*In the 2001 film ''[[Rat Race (film)|Rat Race]]'', the Pear family were sitting inside a Fatburger.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://productplacementblog.com/movies/fatburger-restaurant-in-rat-race-2001/|title=Fatburger Restaurant in Rat Race (2001)|date=December 11, 2018|publisher=Product Placement Blog|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>  Later, Randy Pear buys sleeping pills and puts them in his family's milkshakes.
*In the 2016 film ''[[Get a Job (2016 film)|Get a Job]]'', Hank Diller is at his desk with food from Fatburger.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://productplacementblog.com/movies/fatburger-get-a-job-2016/|title=Fatburger – Get a Job (2016)|date=April 22, 2016|publisher=Product Placement Blog}}</ref>
*On season 1 episode entitled "Tickets for a Queue" of the [[Apple TV+]] series ''[[Trying (TV series)|Trying]]'', Jason and Erica are having a meal at Fatburger.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://productplacementblog.com/tv-series/fatburger-fast-casual-restaurant-and-coca-cola-in-trying-s01e03-tickets-for-a-queue-2020/|title=Fatburger Fast Casual Restaurant and Coca-Cola in Trying S01E03 "Tickets for a Queue" (2020)|date=May 2, 2020|publisher=Product Placement Blog|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of hamburger restaurants]]
{{Portal bar|Food|United States|Los Angeles|California|Companies}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website}}

{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}

[[Category:Companies based in Beverly Hills, California]]
[[Category:Economy of the Southwestern United States]]
[[Category:Restaurants in California]]
[[Category:Cuisine of the Western United States]]
[[Category:1947 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Fast-food chains of the United States]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1947]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009]]
[[Category:Hamburger restaurants]]
[[Category:Fast-food franchises]]
[[Category:Fast-food hamburger restaurants]]
[[Category:Fast casual restaurants]]
[[Category:Californian cuisine]]