Another plant-based burger concept is gone.
The four-unit Hart House concept, which was owned in part by actor and comedian Kevin Hart, shuttered all of its units on Tuesday. All four were in the Los Angeles area.
CEO Andy Hooper confirmed the news on Wednesday but did not immediately respond to requests for more information.
On Instagram Tuesday, Hart House posted a simple “Thank You,” saying “A Hartfelt goodbye for now as we start a new chapter.”
The concept first opened in 2022 amid a wave of plant-based burger brands in Los Angeles. Hart House offered proprietary “burg’rs,” “chick’n” sandwiches, shakes and tots that were like traditional fast food, but without any animal products.
Though about 50% owned by Hart, the brand was led by Hooper, the former president of &Pizza.
At Hart House, Hooper attempted to create a new “sustainable employment experience” with higher wages and generous benefits that were designed to reduce turnover and build a stable labor force for growth.
Hart House, for example, gave hourly workers healthcare coverage, a lifestyle spending account with access to things like Netflix subscriptions, and access to an interest-earning savings account to which the company contributed.
In January this year, Hooper said the chain planned to add another four to six units, and the brand was considering moves into Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Hooper also said the company was considering growth through possible acquisition.
And the company was working on a CPG brand that was to be called Hart Foods, which would bring the chain’s crispy (plant-based) chicken and shake base to grocery stores or other foodservice channels, like schools.
This summer, Hart House launched a promotion tied to Hart’s latest movie “Borderlands,” with the Dishonorably Hot Chick’n sandwich, featuring a bun designed to resemble the black beret of the movie’s main character.
But, after an initial boom that followed the pandemic, plant-based fast-food concepts have shown signs of slowed growth and consolidation.
Veggie Grill closed about 40% of its units in 2023 and then what remained was acquired by Next Level Burger. The Minneapolis-based Stalk & Spade chain closed its three units in 2023.
Other casualties include Honeybee Burger in Los Angeles, Wild Thing in Portland, Oregon, and VegeNation in Las Vegas.
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