All-American Burger

All-American Burger was a regional fast-food restaurant chain based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Aaron Binder in 1968, the chain developed a local identity around large, straightforward hamburgers and a distinctly American drive-in-style fast-food menu. Its signature offering was a quarter-pound burger, while chili burgers and hickory burgers provided additional points of differentiation. Some restaurants also sold half-pound patties, which reportedly represented as much as one-quarter of sales at individual locations. Binder expanded the business through several additional Los Angeles-area restaurants during the 1970s. The chain remained closely associated with its founder until January 1980, when Binder stepped down from operational leadership. He continued to serve on the board until March 1981. In April of that year, All-American Burger filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy did not immediately end the chain's restaurant operations, and locations continued to trade afterward, but the filing marked a major turning point in the brand's corporate history. The company's financial troubles were followed by regulatory scrutiny. Several months after the bankruptcy filing, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused Binder of selling company stock while allegedly aware that the business was insolvent, before that information had become public. The matter was settled out of court, with Binder neither admitting nor denying wrongdoing. This episode became one of the defining controversies associated with the chain's collapse. All-American Burger remained part of Los Angeles popular culture after its corporate difficulties. The San Vicente Boulevard location in Brentwood appeared prominently in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The chain's final known restaurant operated as an independent franchise on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. That location closed in 2010 and was replaced by a Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Sunset Boulevard site also appeared as a filming location in the 1991 film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. The brand is now defunct. No current corporate website, parent company, public listing, or operating locations are identified in the available reference material. Its historical significance rests primarily on its role as a locally recognized Los Angeles burger chain, its unusual longevity after bankruptcy, and its appearances in American film.

All-American Burger began in Los Angeles in 1968 under the direction of Aaron Binder. It was built as a regional fast-food business rather than a national chain, and its identity centered on generously sized hamburgers. The standard quarter-pound burger was a principal menu item, complemented by chili burgers and hickory burgers. The chain also sold half-pound patties, which could account for up to 25 percent of sales at certain restaurants, indicating that larger portions were an important part of its appeal. During the 1970s, Binder opened several more restaurants in the Los Angeles area. The expansion gave All-American Burger a recognizable local presence while keeping the business concentrated in Southern California. Binder led the company until January 1980 and remained associated with it as a board member until March 1981. The business entered bankruptcy in April 1981. Although the filing disrupted the company's corporate position, restaurants continued to operate after the bankruptcy. The chain's difficulties also brought regulatory attention to Binder. A few months after the bankruptcy filing, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused him of selling company stock while aware that the company was insolvent and before the condition had been made public. The case was settled out of court, and Binder neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing. Binder later became involved in a separate Illinois package-delivery venture that was connected to a scheme to defraud investors and the Internal Revenue Service. He was ultimately imprisoned for his participation in that tax-shelter fraud and served 44 months. This later criminal matter was separate from the SEC case involving All-American Burger, but it became part of the broader historical record surrounding the chain's founder. Despite the bankruptcy and Binder's imprisonment, the restaurant name survived for decades through continuing operations and franchising. The San Vicente Boulevard restaurant in Brentwood gained additional visibility when it was prominently featured in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The final known outlet was an independently operated franchise on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. That restaurant also served as a filming location for the 1991 movie Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. It closed in 2010 and was replaced by a Chipotle Mexican Grill. All-American Burger is now defunct. Available reference material does not identify a successor company, current owner, active website, or surviving official locations. The chain's legacy is primarily local and cultural: it represents a Los Angeles burger business that expanded during the 1970s, survived a major bankruptcy filing, and retained visibility through appearances in well-known films.

1. 2010Last known restaurant closes

   The final known All-American Burger location, an independent franchise on Sunset Boulevard, closed and was replaced by a Chipotle Mexican Grill.

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2. 1991Sunset Boulevard location appears in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

   The later independent Sunset Boulevard franchise served as a filming location for Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.

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3. 1982Film appearance in Fast Times at Ridgemont High

   The chain's San Vicente Boulevard restaurant in Brentwood was prominently shown in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

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4. 1981Bankruptcy filing

   All-American Burger filed for bankruptcy in April 1981, although restaurants continued operating afterward.

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5. 1980Binder leaves operational leadership

   Aaron Binder stopped leading the company in January 1980 but remained on its board until March 1981.

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6. 1970Los Angeles expansion

   Binder opened several additional restaurants in Los Angeles during the 1970s.

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7. 1968First All-American Burger restaurant opens

   Aaron Binder founded the first All-American Burger restaurant in Los Angeles, launching a regional fast-food chain focused on substantial hamburgers.

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A Los Angeles regional fast-food chain positioned around substantial, classic American hamburgers, with quarter-pound and half-pound patties and distinctive chili and hickory variations.

• Quarter-pound burgerHamburger1968

  The quarter-pound hamburger was one of All-American Burger's core offerings and a defining part of its menu identity. The chain was associated with serving substantial patties in a straightforward regional fast-food format.

• Half-pound burgerHamburger

  All-American Burger also sold half-pound patties. At some locations, these larger burgers reportedly generated up to 25 percent of sales, making them a significant part of the chain's appeal to customers seeking a more filling portion.

• Chili burgerSpecialty hamburger

  The chili burger was a named specialty on the All-American Burger menu. The available historical material identifies it as one of the chain's characteristic products, although it does not provide a detailed ingredient list or preparation description.

• Hickory burgerSpecialty hamburger

  The hickory burger was another signature menu variation associated with the chain. Publicly available reference material does not specify the exact sauce, toppings, or recipe used.

• 1981File for bankruptcyOther

  The chain faced financial distress after years of regional expansion and filed for bankruptcy in April 1981.

  What changed. All-American Burger entered bankruptcy proceedings while its restaurants continued operating for a period afterward.

  Aftermath. The filing marked the chain's principal corporate collapse, although the brand survived through continued operations and later independent franchising.

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• 1983Separate tax-shelter fraud conviction involving the founderControversy

  In an unrelated matter, Binder became involved in an Illinois package-delivery scheme intended to defraud investors and the IRS. He was later imprisoned and served 44 months for his participation in the tax-shelter fraud.

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• 1981SEC stock-sale allegations involving Aaron BinderControversy

  After All-American Burger entered bankruptcy, the SEC accused founder Aaron Binder of selling company stock while allegedly knowing that the company was insolvent and before the information became public. The dispute was settled out of court, with Binder neither admitting nor denying wrongdoing.

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• 2010Final Sunset Boulevard location closes

  The last known All-American Burger restaurant, an independent franchise on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, closed and was replaced by a Chipotle Mexican Grill.

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• 1982San Vicente Boulevard restaurant appears in Fast Times at Ridgemont High

  The All-American Burger location on San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood was prominently featured in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

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• 1981All-American Burger files for bankruptcy

  The Los Angeles regional burger chain filed for bankruptcy in April 1981. Restaurants continued operating after the filing, but the event marked a major corporate and financial setback.

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1. All-American Burger