Tam's Burgers Explained

Tam's Burgers
Type:Private
Industry:Foodservice
Founded:1971
Founder:Kostas Vovos
Num Locations:12+
Num Locations Year:2022
Owner:Sprio Vovos

Tam's Burgers is an American restaurant chain based in Southern California. Founded in 1971, it has been seen as a symbol of Compton, California.[1]

The restaurant is not to be confused with another chain based in Southern California of the same name. That chain split from the original Tam's in 1992 and serves the Inland Empire, with six locations.[2]

History

Tam's Burgers was founded in 1971 by Kostas Vovos. His grandson, Spiro owns the restaurant as of 2022.[1] [3]

Locations

The chain has over twelve locations in Los Angeles County.[1]

In popular culture

Kendrick Lamar mentioned the chain in his 2017 song "ELEMENT.", rapping "I be hangin' out at Tam's, I be on Stockton / I don't do it for the 'Gram, I do it for Compton".[4] The set for the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in 2022 included a sign from Tam's Burgers #21 and references to many other Compton landmarks as a tribute to the African-American culture of the Los Angeles area.[1] [5] [6] Lamar is also seen eating at the chain in the music video for his 2024 song "Not Like Us" alongside the song's producer, Mustard.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ding . Jaimie . 2022-02-15 . In Compton, Tam's regulars are proud of Super Bowl moment: 'It felt like we were being seen' . 2024-07-05 . . en-US . July 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240704154341/https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-02-15/tams-regulars-proud-of-compton-mainstays-super-bowl-moment-it-felt-like-we-were-being-seen . live .
  2. Web site: Inland Empire Tam's Burgers website . 2024-07-05 . July 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240705172926/https://tamsburgers.net/ . live .
  3. Web site: Kissel . Thomas . 2022-02-23 . Tam’s Burgers: The Greek Grandfather of Compton Taking Over Super Bowl LVI . 2024-07-05 . . July 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240706174859/https://greekreporter.com/2022/02/23/tams-burgers-compton-dr-dre-super-bowl-kosta-vovos-greek/ . live .
  4. Web site: Brown . August . 2022-02-14 . Tam's Burgers forever: For locals, Compton landmarks steal the Super Bowl halftime show . 2024-07-05 . . en-US . June 21, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621155301/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-02-13/super-bowl-halftime-show-compton-landmarks-tams . live .
  5. Web site: Holmes . Mona . 2022-02-14 . Dr. Dre Features Tam’s Burgers From Compton During Super Bowl Halftime Show . 2024-07-05 . . en . December 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202153145/https://la.eater.com/2022/2/14/22933176/tams-burgers-no-21-super-bowl-halftime-show-dr-dre-compton-los-angeles . live .
  6. Web site: Johnson . Kelli . 2022-02-14 . Popular Compton restaurant Tam’s Burgers No. 21 featured in Super Bowl halftime show . 2024-07-05 . . en-US . July 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240706174903/https://www.foxla.com/news/popular-compton-restaurant-tams-burgers-no-21-featured-in-super-bowl-halftime-show . live .
  7. Web site: Phillips . Zoe . 2024-07-04 . Kendrick Lamar Releases “Not Like Us” Music Video, Takes More Shots at Drake . 2024-07-06 . . en-US . live . July 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240705020131/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/kendrick-lamar-not-like-us-music-video-1235939286/ .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tam's Burgers".

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