S. Samuel
After recent reports of the closing of Kanye West's Chicago-based restaurant emerged online, a company representative has stepped forward to address the shutdown.
According to marketing coordinator Maria Brooks, the closing was due to finance viability.
“”From time to time, Fatburger Corporation and our franchisees routinely review the performance of each of our stores, and make business decisions regarding their continued financial viability. It’s unfortunate that the Orland Park location owned by Kanye West Foods, LLC has closed, but we hope to have a presence in the Orland Park community at some time in the future.” (RumorFix)
Details of the shutdown landed across the Internet last week.
After only a year and a half, Fatburger in suburban Orland Park has closed down. KW Foods, LLC, rapper Kanye West’s company, opened the restaurant to much fanfare in 2008. James Newell, Fatburger’s director of operations, pointed to the recent financial performance of the store as the reason the store closed, “It’s unfortunate, but we hope to have a presence in Orland Park again in the future.” Kanye West’s other Fatburger location, near 95th & Western in the city’s Beverly neighborhood, remains open for business. (WGN-TV News)
In August 2008, West made headlines for opening the first-ever Fatburger in his hometown.
The California-based burger chain Fatburger will be opening its first Chicago-area outpost in Orland Park next month (September 2008) and its second on 95th and Western come January, all thanks to Kanye West. West owns KW Foods LLC, which has the rights to develop 10 Fatburgers around Chicagoland. That guy is everywhere! (Pop Crunch)
In December 2008, rapper E-40 announced that his own popular Fatburger franchise in California had shut its doors.
The hip-hop mogul has confirmed the impact of today’s financial crisis as being one reason for his unexpected decision, however, he plans to shift his focus to a new venture. “I’m moving on from Fatburger because it didn’t really take off like it did in Southern California,” 40 explained in an interview. “I’m moving on to Wing Stop…that’s where it’s at.” (The Los Angeles Times)
Check out some recent Kanye West footage down below:
