Los Angeles’ Fatburger, dubbed ‘The Last Great Hamburger Stand,’ is opening a new location in Chatham, located at 825 E. 87th St.
This will officially become the only Fatburger in Illinois following the permanent closure of the Beverly location. Franchise owner Jackie Jackson tells What Now Chicago she expects to open the new restaurant by the end of 2022. The new Fatburger will move into the former home of Seaway Bank, which has since moved down the street to 645 E 87th St. This is great news for anyone who has ever had the chance to try Fatburger, which Lovie Yancey founded in 1947. The next closest Fatburger can be found in Winchester, Kentucky.
This new Fatburger will also serve as a Buffalo’s Express, where guests will find authentic buffalo-style wings. The company, which first opened in 1985, uses medium-sized wings to consistently deliver great texture and taste, slathered in 13 different house-made sauces. As for Fatburger itself, guests can expect a simple menu featuring the namesake Fatburger, plus other classic burgers such as the turkeyburger, impossible burger, a chicken sandwich, and more. As for sides, there are several different fries and hot dog options to choose from. To top it off, Fatburger offers hand-scooped milkshakes made with 100% real ice cream.
This isn’t the first time Fatburger has attempted to make its way into Chicagoland. In 2007, Kanye West’s restaurant company, KW Foods LLC, signed a deal to open 10 locations in Chicago. Two years later, only two locations opened: Orland Park and Beverly. In 2011, Fatburger bought out the Beverly location, the last-standing restaurant from the KW Foods LLC deal. That location eventually closed down a few years after the acquisition.
This new location will put Chicago back on the map for Fatburger, which has locations throughout the world. In the United States, most locations are found in the Southwest, from Louisiana to California. The company also has locations in China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq, and more. The company’s increasing success has led to partnerships with several high-profile celebrities, including Pharrell, Queen Latifah, rapper E-40, Montel Williams, and Magic Johnson. Now, Jackson gets ready to bring the company back to the windy city by year-end.
“[I’m going to] take this building that has been in the community for ten years and transform it into something for the community,” Jackson told The Chicago Sun-Times. “I’m really, really excited about the brand, and I think it’s something the community will appreciate.”
