By Shirley Hawkins
Contributing Writer
EXPOSITION PARK — Comedian, actor and entrepreneur Kevin Hart was on hand June 21 for the opening of his fourth fast-food restaurant, Hart’s House, across the street from USC.
Fans and customers alike lined up at Hart House’s new location at 3726 S. Figueroa St., for the ribbon cutting ceremony as green and white balloons filled the sky.
On hand to kick off the festivities were Hart House CEO Andy Hooper, LA Promise Fund CEO Veronica Melvin and Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President Pat Clark.
Hart House has chosen as its community partner the LA Promise Fund, which is creating access for 40,000 students to improve academic achievement as well as college and career access. The fund is working with Westbrook Academy in South Los Angeles, a community based charter school.
Hart House donated 10% of all opening day profits to the organization and the school.
“I am very excited that we are opening our fourth Hart House at USC,” Hart said in a statement. “College students are always looking for easy and delicious meals and Hart House satisfies both of those wants. College students are the next generation of leaders and thought starters and bringing them our delicious plant-based food feels like great synergy as we all try to do a bit better for ourselves now and look to improve the world for the next generations.”
In a fast-food industry dominated by establishments that offer a variety of meat-dominated menus, the management at Hart House is committed to disrupting the quick-service industry with affordable and healthier and delicious alternatives.
According to the National Institutes of Health, health risks involving eating red meat include increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers and other diseases.
People attending the grand opening sampled Hart House’s new “Summer Lovin’” menu which features a smokey BBQ burg’r, Hart House lemonade and Nashville nuggets.
The main menu offers a variety of plant-based choices, including 100% plant-based burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, nuggets, fries, tots and milkshakes. The menu does not use hormones, artificial colors, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup.
Employees eagerly served customers wearing black-and-white T-shirts that touted the slogan “Eat Your Hart Out.’
Since debuting in August 2022, Hart House has opened four locations, including one in Hollywood. The other two are in Westchester and Monrovia. Hart has publicly announced plans to expand Hart House internationally, but has yet to announce in which countries he will expand the brand.
Outdoors in the Hart House patio, customers can relax and unwind in a spacious outdoor 1,310-square-foot space that offers a standing bar as well as a 2,300-square-foot landscaped outdoor seating area with 40 patio seats and a fire pit to warm up on chilly nights.
Enjoying the grand opening and sampling one of Hart House’s burgers was USC basketball player Boogie Ellis. “It’s my first time trying plant-based food, so I really couldn’t tell the difference as to whether the burger was regular or plant based,” said Ellis, adding that eating at Hart House has been a great experience. “The burgers and fries were really good. It is definitely a place that I will come to throughout the week.”
Shirley Hawkins is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers. She can be reached at metropressnews@gmail.com.
