All-American Burger

All-American Burger was a regional fast food chain in Los Angeles, California.

History

The first All-American Burger restaurant was founded by Aaron Binder in the 1968.[1][2] The restaurant was known for its quarter-pound burger patties, as well as chili burgers and hickory burgers.[3][4] It also sold half-pound patties, which accounted for up to 25% of sales at some stores.[5] Binder opened several other restaurants in Los Angeles during the 1970s.

Binder led the company until January 1980 and remained on the board of directors until March 1981.[2] In April 1981, the chain filed for bankruptcy.[6] A few months later, the SEC accused Binder of selling stock in the company when he knew the company was insolvent but before the information was made public.[2] The case was later settled out of court with Binder neither admitted nor denied wrong doing.

In an unrelated case, Binder became involve in a scheme to defraud investors and the IRS in a short lived Illinois-based package delivery service in 1983.[7] Binder was later imprisoned for this fraud.[8] Binder served 44 months in prison for his involvement in a tax shelter fraud.[9]

The chain continued to operate after the bankruptcy filing and Binder's imprisonment.[5] The San Vicente Blvd. location in Brentwood was prominently featured in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.[8]

The last All-American Burger restaurant was an independent franchise that was on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. It was closed in 2010[4] and was replaced by a Chipotle Mexican Grill.[10] The restaurant served as the filming location of the 1991 film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.[11]