Just a few years after moving from its historic locale, Irv’s Burgers in West Hollywood, California, will close its doors permanently Saturday.
This Is West Hollywood had the story:
Just as was the case when Irv’s moves four years ago, the culprit is a rent that’s too damn high, as Hong blames the landlord for the decision.
Loyal customers may have seen the writing on the wall in recent weeks as the beverage selection slowly dwindled to just Coke and Diet Coke, and options such as lemonade Dr. Pepper were dropped from the menu.
Los Angeles Eater provided more context on what seemed to be a tumultuous time for the Route 66 restaurant:
Just a few months ago Irv’s started a GoFundMe campaign to save the restaurant only to pull it down and remove any mention of it from their social media. And now the burger joint’s Instagram is filled with ads trying to sell a lot of the kitchen equipment.
Dave White also posted Nov. 15 on Facebook about the imminent closure:
There are a variety of reasons: more rent increases and stress, but also the strain of running the place without her brother Sean, who died last year, and the burden on Mama, who is now 83 and who works side by side with Sonia until late at night six days a week. […]
If you love the Hong family and this restaurant, you have a little more than a week to go get one more burger before they close up shop. And if you’ve never been, here’s your last chance to visit this special place. Hours 9am to 6:50pm, cash only.
Escalating rent remains a big problem in West Hollywood, as it has become very gentrified in recent years.
The old Irv’s Burgers stand at 8289 Santa Monica Blvd. (aka Route 66) reopened last month as a cafe for the Conservatory restaurant complex. The Hongs moved their restaurant to 7998 Santa Monica Blvd. in 2014 after being evicted the previous year.
The Hong family, which immigrated from Korea, bought Irv’s in 2000. The city designated the restaurant as a cultural landmark in 2005.
Irv’s originally was a Queen’s Burgers stand that started in 1950. George Motz, host of the Travel Channel’s “Burger Land,” has cited Irv’s as having one of the best burgers in the country.
UPDATE 11/26/2018: LA Eater posted this heartbreaking photo after Irv’s last day.
(Image of the Irv’s Burgers window in West Hollywood, California, via Facebook)
Good luck to the Hong family. We’ll miss you! We’ve been there a couple of times from Ohio to enjoy your awesome burgers It was truly an honor and a pleasure to meet you Sonia!.