| Original Tommy's | |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Location: | Monrovia, California |
| Area Served: | California, Nevada |
| Num Locations Year: | 2021 |
| Key People: | Dawna Bernal (President) |
| Founder: | Thomas James "Tommy" Koulax |
| Industry: | Restaurants |
| Genre: | Fast food |
| Revenue: | US$62 million |
| Revenue Year: | 2021[1] |
| Num Employees: | 5,000 |
| Num Employees Year: | 2021 |
| Products: | hamburgers, hot dogs, tamales, chili, french fries, soft drinks |
| Num Locations: | 34[2] (31 California, 3 Nevada) |
Original Tommy's, previously known as Original Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers, is a fast food hamburger restaurant chain in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is known for its hamburgers and chili burgers.[3]
The original location was opened on May 15, 1946, by Tom Koulax[4] [5] (October 26, 1918 - May 28, 1992), the son of Greek immigrants, on the northeast corner of Beverly and Rampart boulevards west of downtown Los Angeles.[6] The stand, which still exists today, sold hamburgers and hot dogs topped with chili. Initially, the business was slow but it soon started to pick up. During the 1960s, the entire lot at the intersection was purchased. Soon after, the northwest corner was acquired for expanded parking and storage of goods. Not long after that, a second service counter occupying the building at the perimeter of the northeast lot was set up.[7]
Tommy's grew to 30 locations by 2006. Most Original Tommy's restaurants are found in the Greater Los Angeles Area. In recent years several locations have closed. The Santa Monica location was closed on April 20, 2014 when the landlord refused to renew the lease[8] [9] and leased the location to Starbucks instead.[10]
In 2008, the company expanded for the first time outside of California by opening two locations in Clark County, Nevada.[11] A third Nevada location was opened in 2013.[12] [13] [14]
As of March 2023, there are 32 locations. The company is based in Monrovia, California, after years of being in Glendale, California, and is run by the late Mr. Koulax's family.
| Number | Location | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, California | 1946 |
| 2 | North Hills, California | 1971 |
| 3 | Eagle Rock, California | 1972 |
| 4 | Burbank, California | 1973 |
| 5 | Tujunga, California | 1974 |
| 6 | Fountain Valley, California | 1980 |
| 7 | Van Nuys, California | 1982 |
| 8 | Long Beach, California | 1984 |
| 9 | Pico Rivera, California | 1985 |
| 10 | Westminster, California | 1987 |
| 11 | Canoga Park, California | 1988 |
| 12 | Norwalk, California | 1990 |
| 13 | Hollywood, California | 1996 |
| 14 | North Hollywood, California | 1996 |
| 15 | Monrovia, California | 1997 |
| 16 | Barstow, California | 1999 |
| 17 | Chino, California | 2000 |
| 18 | Simi Valley, California | 2000 |
| 19 | Valencia, California | 2001 |
| 20 | Corona, California | 2003 |