Comedian and actor Kevin Hart has abruptly and unexpectedly closed his plant-based fast-food chain, Hart House, including all four of its Southern California locations. The chain, which debuted in 2022, was launched with Hart leading the mission to promote a vegan lifestyle.
Hart House CEO Andy Hooper confirmed the closure in a written statement to Eater, thanking the team, customers, and community partners for their support: “The response to the product has been incredible, and we thank our committed team, our customers, and our community partners for helping make the change we all craved, and for their unwavering support of Hart House.”Hart, who adopted a mostly plant-based diet in 2020, collaborated with Hooper to create a fast-food brand offering vegan chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and burgers, all priced under $8, with combo meals for less than $15. The brand developed its own proprietary patties instead of using Beyond or Impossible products.
According to Eater, Hart House opened its first location in Westchester in August 2022, close to Los Angeles International Airport. A second location followed in Monrovia in November 2022, with a third store in University Park opening in June 2023. In May 2023, the flagship store on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue opened with a drive-thru, which was intended to be a model for future expansions.
The flagship location was strategically placed on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, near Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out. Hooper noted in 2023, “Opening on the corner of Sunset and Highland… in a former McDonald’s building is about as emblematic as you can get of our aspiration to be the future of quick-service restaurants.”
Despite Hart House’s growth, the restaurant industry has continued to struggle due to lingering effects of the pandemic, rising operational costs, and a slowdown in the local film and television industry. In early September 2024, Shake Shack also closed five locations in Los Angeles, including Culver City and Silver Lake. Nevertheless, fast-food jobs in California are increasing, even as the state’s minimum wage rose to $20 an hour in April 2024.