Hart House, the vegan fast food chain co-founded by comedian Kevin Hart, has closed all of its locations just two years after its debut.
Its four Southern California locations closed their doors for the last time on Tuesday, according to CEO Andy Hooper, as reported by LA Dining Room.
On Instagram, Hart House posted a farewell message: “Thank you. Goodbye Hartfelt for now as we begin a new chapter.”
It is the latest in a long line of restaurant chains that have struggled this year. Yesterday, BurgerFi announced it had filed for bankruptcy, one of more than ten major chains to do so this year. Most notable was Red Lobster, after its $20 all-you-can-eat shrimp deal cost it millions of dollars.
It was only in January that Hart House announced plans to expand by adding four to six more locations and exploring markets in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.
Hart House has now closed. It was set to open in 2022 after Kevin Hart’s public commitment to a mostly plant-based diet in 2020.
The chain was about 50 percent owned by Hart and run by Hooper, the former president of &Pizza.
Hart House, which launched in 2022 amid a surge in plant-based burger options in Los Angeles, specialized in vegan “burgers,” “chicken” sandwiches, shakes and croquettes.
Its launch that year followed Hart’s public commitment to a primarily plant-based diet in 2020.
The idea was to offer a traditional fast food experience but without animal products. The chain also wanted to offer good value for money: burgers cost less than $8 and combo meals are available for less than $15.
In May 2023, a flagship location opened at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, which was the chain’s first to offer a drive-thru.
At the time, Hooper described the Hollywood site as symbolic of the brand’s aspirations: “Opening on the corner of Sunset and Highland, across from Hollywood High School, next to a Chick-fil-A and just feet from an In-N-Out, (inside) a former McDonald’s building is about as emblematic as it gets of our aspiration to be the future of quick-service restaurants.”
Hooper set out to establish a “sustainable employment experience” at Hart House, with higher wages and widespread benefits to encourage staff to stay.
Employees received health care, a lifestyle spending account, and an interest-bearing savings account to which the company contributed.
A flagship location opened at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in May 2023, the first in the chain to offer a drive-thru.
Launched in 2022 amid a surge in plant-based burger options in Los Angeles, Hart House specialized in vegan “burgers,” “chicken and fries” sandwiches, shakes and snacks.
This comes amid a series of restaurant closures across the United States as businesses struggle with rising food and labor costs.
The highest-profile company to file for bankruptcy was Red Lobster after its $20 unlimited shrimp purchase contract cost it millions of dollars.
Popular Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo filed for bankruptcy in August, just days after abruptly closing 13 underperforming locations.
World of Beer Bar & Kitchen was named one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the U.S. in 2013.
It also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August, saying it owed suppliers as much as $50 million.
National upmarket supermarket and coffee chain Foxtrot said in early April it would close all its stores with immediate effect, leaving staff and customers stunned.
Businesses are struggling with falling sales as Americans eat out less after two years of steep price hikes.
