warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Irv's Burgers Closes Thursday

Madeline Ewles |
October 31, 2013 | 4:04 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Irv's Burgers. Photo Courtesy of Twitter.
Irv's Burgers. Photo Courtesy of Twitter.
Irv's Burgers on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood is forced to close tonight by its land owners, the Standard Oil Investment Group

The Hongs, a Korean-American family, bought the business back in 2000 from Irving Gendis who named the burger joint after himself when he acquired the walk-up restaurant in 1970. Before then the popular dining destination on Route 66 was known as Queensburger (1950) and Joes's Burgers (1953-1970). 

For the last thirteen years, Sonia Hong and her family have been serving up burgers and fries on paper plates with drawings of each costumer along with the special message 'just for you,' in Sonia's handwritting. Over the years, the Hongs have added to Irv's reputation as a hot spot for Los Angeles locals and celebrities like Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. 

After saving Irv's from demolition back in 2004, the Hongs have been hanging on but can no longer keep up with the increasing rent rates that have increased from $4,500 to $7,000 a month. The Standard Oil Investment Group also offered the family a $50,000 buy-out that they turned down also refusing to refurbish the outdated roof and pay rent while the restaruant remains under construction.  

Since then the Hong family issued a call to the community for assistance in finding and funding a new location for the beloved burger joint. Once the Hongs leave the location, it is said that the developers will zone the property for two different resturants. 

Reach Staff Reporter Madeline Ewles here. Follow her on Twitter



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.