First Location of Restaurant Chain Fatburger (1952)

Fatburger's first location was opened here in 1952 on Western Avenue in South Los Angeles before expanding locally throughout Los Angeles. Today, there are about 30 Fatburger locations in Los Angeles, and the restaurant is deeply associated with the city and founder Lovie Yancey, an African American entrepreneur.

In 1947, Lovie Yancey and her husband established a small hamburger stand called Mr. Fatburger off Western Avenue in South Los Angeles. However, in 1952, Yancey and her husband decided to part ways and filed for a divorce. In filing for divorce, Yancey kept the rights to the stand and took "Mr." off of it. This same location was later sold in 2009 for $3 million, showing the historical value of Yancey’s Fatburger establishment had become only a few decades later. This sale was only made if the original Fatburger stand would be contained in the development. The original location was maintained because it represents the roots and origins of the franchise. The land surrounding it was converted into a housing complex; however, the original restaurant remains in front of the renovation. 

Fatburger has played its part in Los Angeles’ pop culture. In 1992, Fatburger attained recognition when the rapper Ice Cube released the song ”It Was a Good Day” in which he mentioned Fatburger. Fatburger was also mentioned in the song “Going Back to Cali” by The Notorious B.I.G. FatBurger is also owned by a handful of celebrities, including Pharell and Montell Williams. 

F.A.T Brands began working with Lovie Yancey in June 2003. In 2008, Yancey passed away at the age of 96. As a result, F.A.T. Brands currently operates the Fatburger restaurants. FatBurger has many locations expanding worldwide, with over 180 locations outside the U.S. today. In 2023, Fatburger opened in Orlando Park, Illinois, showing that the company is doing well financially. Fatburger first expanded under Lovie Yancey. Under F.A.T Brands, it expanded globally. Fatburger has been in business for 70 years and continues to thrive in the year 2023.

FatBurger is known for having 100% pure beef. Many enjoy Fatburger due to its fresh meat and the filling meals it offers. Additionally, it allows customizable toppings on burgers and offers milkshakes. In keeping with Yancey's original design, all locations have the traditional red, yellow, and blue color scheme. They also use material designs similar to her original stand. Not only is Yancey the founder of Fatburger but she is also a philanthropist. In 1986, Yancey donated 1.7 million dollars to City of Hope Hospital in honor of her grandson’s death due to sickle cell amenia.

Craig, Eric. 2023. “From South LA to Stardom: The History of Fatburger.” The South LA Recap. July 20, 2023. https://southlarecap.com/2023/07/20/fatburger-history-lovie-yancey-south-los-angeles/.

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“Fatburger History: Founding, Timeline, and Milestones - Zippia.” 2020. Www.zippia.com. August 27, 2020. https://www.zippia.com/fatburger-careers-201559/history/.

McLellan, Dennis. 2008. “Fatburger Founder Expanded South L.A. Eatery into Chain.” Los Angeles Times. February 2, 2008. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-02-me-yancey2-story.html.

“Site of Original Fatburger Stand in South LA Saved by CRA Deal.” 2009. LAist. July 8, 2009. https://laist.com/news/site-of-original-fatburger-stand-in.