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Original Tommy's

Coordinates: 34°04′10″N 118°16′35″W / 34.069545°N 118.276368°W / 34.069545; -118.276368
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"Tommy's" redirects here. For UK-based charity, see Tommy's (charity).

34°04′10″N 118°16′35″W / 34.069545°N 118.276368°W / 34.069545; -118.276368

Original Tommy's
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
GenreFast food
Founded1946; 79 years ago (1946) in
Los Angeles, California,
United States
FounderThomas James "Tommy" Koulax
HeadquartersMonrovia, California
Number of locations
32[1] (29 California, 3 Nevada)[a] (2021)
Area served
California, Nevada
Key people
Dawna Bernal (President)
Productshamburgers, hot dogs, tamales, chili, french fries, soft drinks
RevenueIncrease US$62 million (2021[4])
Number of employees
5,000 (2021)
Websiteoriginaltommys.com
Location of the first restaurant at the intersection of Beverly Blvd & Rampart Blvd in Los Angeles. The restaurant comprises both the shack in the foreground as well as the building that surrounds it. Patrons can eat at their cars or standing at the counter along the back walls.
Older logo.

Original Tommy's, previously known as Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers, is a fast food hamburger restaurant chain in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is known for its hamburgers and chili burgers.[5]

History

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The original location was opened on May 15, 1946, by Tom Koulax[6][7] (October 26, 1918 - May 28, 1992), the son of Greek immigrants, on the northeast corner of Beverly and Rampart boulevards west of downtown Los Angeles.[8] The stand, which still exists today, sold hamburgers and hot dogs topped with chili. Initially, the business was slow but it soon started to pick up. During the 1960s, the entire lot at the intersection was purchased. Soon after, the northwest corner was acquired for expanded parking and storage of goods. Not long after that, a second service counter occupying the building at the perimeter of the northeast lot was set up.[9]

Tommy's began to expand in the 1970s, and grew to 30 locations by 2006.[10] Most Original Tommy's restaurants are found in the Greater Los Angeles Area. In recent years several locations have closed. The Santa Monica location was closed on April 20, 2014, when the landlord refused to renew the lease[11][12] and leased the location to Starbucks instead.[13]

In 2008, the company expanded for the first time outside of California by opening two locations in Clark County, Nevada.[14] A third Nevada location was opened in 2013.[15][16][17]

As of March 2023, there are 32 locations. The company is based in Monrovia, California, after years of being in Glendale, California, and is run by the late Mr. Koulax's family.

The restaurant's success in the Los Angeles market has attracted many imitators. A 2019 study by The Los Angeles Times listed 67 restaurants, more than double the number of Original Tommy's restaurants, in the Los Angeles region with some form of the name "Thomas" in the name along with similarity in the signage and menu. Bob Auerbach, a stepson of the restaurant's founder, Tom Koulax, said that the family made a conscious decision not pursue legal action against the imitators.[2]

Chili Cheese Fries, served at the original location (note: the cheese is under the chili).

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Number of locations was 33 in 2019. The San Diego location closed in 2023.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ Company website as of 2025-04-04
  2. ^ a b Miller, Daniel (October 24, 2019). "When is an Original Tommy's burger not an original? When it's one of these 67 look-alikes". The Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ "San Diego's Lone Original Tommy's Hamburgers Location Announces Impending Closure". March 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "Original Tommys". www.originaltommys.com.
  5. ^ "Local Chains 101". Washington Post. April 25, 2004. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  6. ^ Gould, Lark Ellen (2005-04-01). Los Angeles: Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places. Globe Pequot. p. 34. ISBN 9780762735235. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Report - HPLA".
  8. ^ Bartholomew, Dana (May 16, 2006). "Tommy Built it; They Came". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Original Tommy's Hamburgers". Original Tommy's. Archived from the original on 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  10. ^ "Company website, about page".
  11. ^ The Original Tommy's (March 14, 2014). "We have some sad news to report". facebook.com. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  12. ^ Simpson, David Mark (February 20, 2014). "Tommy's burgers may get booted for Starbucks". Santa Monica Daily Press.
  13. ^ Simpson, David Mark (April 20, 2015). "Starbucks opening 21st location in Santa Monica". Santa Monica Daily Press.
  14. ^ "Today's News". Las Vegas Advisor. September 13, 2008. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "Original Tommy's Opens Third Nevada Location". Restaurant Facility Business. November 27, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ Martin, Bradley (April 17, 2013). "Original Tommy's Hamburgers Adds a Drive Thru". Eater Las Vegas.
  17. ^ Stapleton, Susan (September 26, 2013). "Load Up on Chili Burgers and Fries at the New Original Tommy's Hamburgers". Eater Las Vegas.
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