Southern California plant-based fast-food chain Hart House closed all four locations on September 10, 2024, a vegan fast-food initiative by actor and comedian Kevin Hart. Inspired by his personal shift towards a plant-based diet in 2020, Hart collaborated with Andy Hooper to create an affordable, plant-based fast food option. They aimed to disrupt the traditional fast-food market with proprietary patties, offering a healthy alternative right in the heartland of America’s fast food.

“If I can give people a place that’s right in the middle of McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Burger King, they might just choose Hart House and go plant-based today,” Hart remarked about the strategic location of the outlets.

The first Hart House location opened in August 2022 near the bustling Los Angeles International Airport. Subsequent locations in Monrovia and University Park followed, each reflecting the brand’s commitment to accessibility and vegan cuisine.

The flagship location, launched in May 2023 at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, featured a drive-thru, embodying the future Hooper envisioned for quick-service restaurants. “Opening across from Hollywood High School, near a Chick-fil-A and an In-N-Out, in a former McDonald’s, underscores our aspiration,” Hooper told Eater in 2023.

CEO Andy Hooper expressed his gratitude in a statement to Eater LA: “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.”

Though the specific reasons for the closure remain undisclosed, the challenges faced by Hart House reflect broader industry trends. These include the ongoing impact of the pandemic, rising operational costs, and a shifting economic landscape, which also led to Shake Shack’s withdrawal from several Los Angeles locations, despite an overall increase in fast-food jobs following the rise in California’s minimum wage to $20 an hour in April 2024.