After announcing an ambitious San Antonio expansion plan in 2022, Fatburger appears to have cold feet. The franchise has abruptly closed one of its few locations at 6507 W. Loop 1604 N. near Culebra Road.
“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your support and for allowing us to be a part of your community,” wrote the restaurant on a notice taped to the door. “Over the years, your loyalty has meant everything to us.”
So far, neither the parent corporation, FAT Brands, nor the local franchisee, Brame Brands, has commented on the closure. But the closure seems to point to a retreat from the market. Round Table Pizza, brought to Alamo City by the same partnership, has also been closing San Antonio restaurants, most recently in February.
In 2022, the two firms announced an aggressive Texas expansion that would bring 80 locations of its flagship brands — Fatburger, Round Table Pizza, and Buffalo’s Express — to Alamo City. The first Fatburger brick-and-mortar, a shared location with Buffalo’s, opened in May 2024.
In late January, however, FAT Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections, closing 32 of its company-owned restaurants: Smokey Bones, Yalla Mediterranean, and Johnny Rockets. None of the shuttered units were in the San Antonio area, according to industry publication The Street.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear whether Brame is still involved in restaurant franchising. Earlier in February, Utah-based Beans & Brews Coffeehouse — which Brame Brands brought to the San Antonio market — closed its last local store. All of the information related to Brame’s restaurant operations has been removed from its website.
Fatburger’s California roots span back to 1947 when founder Lovie Yancey opened Mr. Fatburger with her husband. In an admirably petty move, she dropped “Mr.” from the name following the couple’s 1952 split, growing the brand into a regional icon.
Fatburger is known for its no-frills signature burger piled with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and relish. Although the chain leans on nostalgia, it does follow culinary trends. Sandwich options now include gluten-free buns, vegan cheese, Impossible patties, and a low-carb Skinnyburger subbing in two meat patties for the sponge-dough bun.
The menu also includes milkshakes, hot dogs, onion rings, and hand-cut French fries, available in both skinny and thick cuts. Several locations also offer wings dressed in a variety of sauces, from sweet teriyaki to coconut jerk.
With the recent closure, Fatburger now only operates two San Antonio locations, one at 13480 San Pedro Ave. and inside Six Flags Fiesta Texas. A request for more information from FAT Brands was not immediately returned. We will update this article with any further comment.