A Southern California-born fast-food chain famous for its chili-smothered menu items is celebrating eight decades of operation by rolling back prices to less than a dollar.
Original Tommy’s will offer its signature chili cheeseburgers for just 80 cents on Friday, May 15, to commemorate the milestone anniversary.
Customers can purchase the discounted chili cheeseburgers from noon to 8 p.m. at any of the company’s locations across the region.
To ensure as many people as possible can participate in the anniversary celebration, the business has placed a strict limit of three 80-cent burgers per person for the duration of the one-day event. Deal savvy customers should expect large crowds as patrons take advantage of the steep discount on the popular menu item.
The anniversary centers around the company’s rich history, which began in 1946 when founder Tommy Koulax established the first restaurant at the intersection of Beverly and Rampart boulevards in downtown Los Angeles.
That simple food stand, which the company affectionately calls “the shack,” still operates today and will serve as the main venue for Friday’s celebration.
Background: The company has since expanded to 32 quick-serve restaurants throughout Southern California and Nevada
Company officials expressed gratitude for the widespread support the restaurants have received over the past eight decades. Original Tommy’s Chief Financial Officer Richard Hicks highlighted the ongoing effort to uphold the original vision of the business.
“We are proud to continue the tradition of serving our World-Famous Chili after 80 years,” Hicks said in a news release. “We’ve worked hard to maintain the high-quality products and commitment to our customers that began with our founder Tommy Koulax. As a company we are grateful to be celebrating this remarkable milestone with the community, staff and our loyal customers.”
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The original Los Angeles location will feature a full day of live entertainment and giveaways for attendees, with musical performances beginning at 11 a.m. with an appearance by the Belmont High School Marching Band. A DJ will also provide live music throughout the afternoon and evening.
Original Tommy’s success and endurance to be celebrated
The company’s longevity will be officially recognized by local government officials during the festivities, officials said.
California State Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez is scheduled to present a special resolution honoring the 80 years of business operations in California. The Koulax family will accept the resolution, and Cynthia Koulax, the daughter of the company’s founder, will be on site to greet members of the community and speak with attendees.
Original Tommy’s will also use the milestone anniversary event as an opportunity to give back to local organizations that support the surrounding neighborhood. Company officials plan to present financial donations in the form of checks to the Belmont High School Marching Band and InsideOut Writers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “reducing recidivism by providing services to young people navigating juvenile detention and life after incarceration.”
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Several top executives from Original Tommy’s will be present for the charitable presentations and community events, including CEO Dawna Bernal alongside Hicks.
This week’s celebration honors eight decades of Original Tommy’s from its humble beginnings at “the Shack” in downtown L.A., to the beloved regional institution it is now.
The company said it remains deeply focused on ensuring its culinary legacy established by Koulax, highlighted by its locally famous chili, remains a staple of the fast-food landscape for a new generation of customers.
For more about the history of Original Tommy’s, click here.
