New SF Chron Bargain Bites list

[Hans Klager]

Whether there's a connection with the Hamburger Hamlet name I can't
speculate on. I don't even know when Hamburger Hamlet started, etc. I'm
sure others can research this.

Hamburger Hamlet was opened on Sunset Boulevard in 1950,
it expanded throughout Hollywood, West LA and the San fernando
Valley.

It was I was told one of the first establishments to hire
black waitresses. A black guy who grew up in Hollywood also told
me that in the fifties, blacks could not eat there but could
order food to go at the back door. I'm not sure of the veracity
of either of these stories.

They also opened restaurants in Washington DC, well it is
like Hollywood, but with ugly people.

I believe the owners sold out. I was told once that
Jennifer Lopez was an investor in the 2000s. Since then the
mini-chain has shrunk to three restaurants in LA and two in
Washington DC. Must be private equity at work.

They used to do a good burger and served beer too.

On hot days in LA I always knew that the Hamburger Hamlet
would have the A/C cranked up. Chill with a burger and beer.

[spamtrap1888]

Whether there's a connection with the Hamburger Hamlet name I can't
speculate on. I don't even know when Hamburger Hamlet started, etc. I'm
sure others can research this.

        Hamburger Hamlet was opened on Sunset Boulevard in 1950,
it expanded throughout Hollywood, West LA and the San fernando
Valley.
        It was I was told one of the first establishments to hire
black waitresses. A black guy who grew up in Hollywood also told
me that in the fifties, blacks could not eat there but could
order food to go at the back door. I'm not sure of the veracity
of either of these stories.
        They also opened restaurants in Washington DC, well it is
like Hollywood, but with ugly people.
        I believe the owners sold out. I was told once that
Jennifer Lopez was an investor in the 2000s. Since then the
mini-chain has shrunk to three restaurants in LA and two in
Washington DC. Must be private equity at work.
        They used to do a good burger and served beer too.
        On hot days in LA I always knew that the Hamburger Hamlet
would have the A/C cranked up. Chill with a burger and beer.

Hamburger Hamlet opened a branch on Chicago's Gold Coast in 1978, when
Marilyn Lewis was able to make it seem interesting. Over hamburgers
there, Roger Ebert showed Oprah on a paper napkin how much more
lucrative syndication would be over ABC's offer to go nationwide.

The big expansion was in 1990, adding three restaurants to solidly
middle class Chicago suburbs. Bankruptcy came in 1995.