The abrupt closure of all four locations of Kevin Hart’s fast-food vegan restaurant chain Hart House in Los Angeles has industry experts musing over the staying power of vegan food businesses.
When Hart joined forces with Andy Hooper, the former president of the &pizza chain, to launch Hart House in 2022, the plan was to open 100 locations in five years. The menu offerings included plant-based “burg’rs” and “chick’n” sandwiches, among other items, which aligned with Hart’s transition to mostly a plant-based diet in 2020. Hooper was also interested in eventually entering the consumer packaged goods business.
Hart House initially opened to widespread acclaim and support. The sensational TikTok food reviewer Keith Lee gave Hart House a rave review when he visited in 2023. He praised the establishment for its affordability, sandwiches are under $8 and combos are under $15, and called the sandwich he tried “amazing.”
Now, after the company closed all of its locations, some experts are calling the plan “ambitious.”
According to The Food Institute, Hart House faced an increase in California’s minimum wage from $15.50 to $20 (when the company already offered higher pay, generous health coverage, and employee benefits) and an oversaturated market.
“Consumers may have viewed Hart House as more of a novelty than a serious player in the fast-food industry,” Bassem Mostafa, lead market analyst and owner of Globemonitor Market Research Agency, told The Food Institute.
He continued, “While Kevin Hart’s star power brought visibility, it didn’t necessarily translate into sustained foot traffic or customer retention, both of which are critical for survival in the competitive restaurant space.”
Hart House is far from the only vegan food business to close up shop recently. The Food Institute also reports a “wave” of closures around the country, including the Veggie Grill chain closing 40% of its locations, Stalk…
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