News

FAT Brands ghosting Chicago

Provided

April 23, 2020

FAT Brands, the parent company of Fatburger, Buffalo's Cafe, Buffalo's Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouses, Elevation Burger, and Yalla Mediterranean, has opened its first ghost kitchen, a delivery-only outlet, in Chicago.

"During a time of uncertainty in the restaurant space, ghost kitchens provide effective solutions for both restaurant owners and customers," CEO Andy Wiederhorn said in a company press release. "Our franchisees currently operate over 20 virtual restaurants, and we are confident that this new concept will serve as an additional way to service our customers."

FAT Brands' virtual restaurants differ from ghost kitchens in that they operate out of existing physical restaurant locations and provide a separate menu offered only via third-party delivery service providers. Ghost kitchens, on the other hand, only prepare food for delivery and are not open to customers.

The ghost kitchen operates through third-party delivery services Uber Eats, Postmates, Doordash and Grubhub. For the first time, Chicago customers will be able to simultaneously order menu items from FAT Brands' Fatburger, Buffalo's Express and Hurricane Grill & Wings concepts. Yalla Mediterranean will be added in the near future, according to the release.

To celebrate the grand opening, delivery through Door Dash will be free between now and May 31 with a minimum order of $15. In addition, Uber Eats will be offering $5 off $20 orders from now until May 31, with Grubhub offering the same deal between April 28 and May 31.

This Chicago ghost kitchen announcement comes as part of a larger development agreement between FAT Brands and Epic Kitchens. The deal is set to include 20 ghost kitchen locations throughout Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York over the next two years, according to the release.