Actor and comedian Kevin Hart’s foray into fast food has been cut short after his plant-based restaurant chain, Hart House, closed just two years after launch.
The first location of the vegan fast-casual venture opened near Los Angeles International Airport in August 2022. The idea for the restaurant came about after Hart switched to a plant-based diet in 2020.
“I founded Hart House to create positive experiences that combine the joy and power of purpose of coming together over food,” Hart wrote on the company’s website.
The chain’s second location opened a few months after the first in Monrovia, followed by a flagship drive-thru at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue and a fourth location in University Park.
The menu included entirely plant-based “chicken” sandwiches, “burgers,” and soy and oat milkshakes, along with fries, nuggets, and sauces.
The four stores suddenly closed in September 10. The reasons remain unclear.
“To our team, guests and community who helped us make the change we all so desperately needed, we say goodbye to Heartfelt’s,” a post on the company’s Instagram page read.
Hart House Chief Executive Officer Andy Hooper did not respond to a request for comment. Hart, a leading comedian and box office powerhouse, has not commented publicly on the closures or provided details about next steps.
This isn’t the first time Hart’s vegan concept has been challenged in tough economic times, with the East Coast burger chain’s five Los Angeles locations struggling due to poor performance.
High inflation has led many consumers to cut back on discretionary spending like eating out, while restaurants also face thin margins and high labor costs, experts say.
Hart House’s flagship restaurant was intended to be a model for future locations and was located in a former McDonald’s building near Hollywood’s Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out Burger.
Hart said when he launched the restaurant, he aimed to create a healthy, affordable option in the fast-food world in L.A. While there were other plant-based fast-casual competitors, he said Hart House offered high-quality food at a lower price.
Hart, along with Hooper, are teaming up with investor Michael Rubin and chef Mike Salem, who previously served as Burger King’s head of culinary innovation and helped launch the Impossible Whopper, to open a line of vegan burger joints.
As of Friday, Hart House’s website was still up and running, with no mention of its disappearance. “Hart House is committed to the future of food and our overall health,” the company said. “Unlike typical fast food, our ingredients are plant-based and real.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
