Heart Attack Grill closing in Las Vegas

y_p_w

y_p_w

Joined
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Messages
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It's not the original location. The concept originated in Tempe, Arizona and another location opened in Dallas. But this one was the last and possibly the most popular location, which is closing at the end of its lease in downtown Las Vegas. The owner is citing that the tourist industry in Vegas is dying for the middle-classs people who would previously visit, and the casino/hotels are targeting people who spend more and ostensibly don't come for kitchsy stuff like what he offers. Certainly it was gimicky. And one guy even suffered a heart attack on the premises.

The Heart Attack Grill opened its only Las Vegas location in 2011 after relocating from Arizona. The restaurant became known for its hospital-themed gimmicks, including waitresses dressed as nurses and paddle-spanking guests who didn’t finish their food.​
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Customers weighing more than 350 pounds could also eat for free, and anyone who finished the “Triple” or “Quadruple Bypass Burger” was placed in a wheelchair and escorted out by their “personal nurse.”​
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Despite the closure, Basso says he’s looking to relocate the Heart Attack Grill elsewhere.​

We’re proud of our 21 year impact on America’s waistline. The obesity rate has risen from 30% in 2005 to nearly 45% today, and we pat ourselves on the back for leading the charge! For those loyal to HAG, do not despair. This is not the end of the world’s most controversial restaurant; it is merely the beginning of a new chapter.​
 
lol.

I go to the Vegas area a few times a year. I have no use for the expensive gimmicks on the strip.

Can’t really fathom how folks are so dumb that they want to spend in that much excess for stuff that is better elsewhere.

But the “not profitable to cater to the middle class” is not just in Vegas.

What many professions/areas need to learn is that not everybody “deserves” some overly fancy luxury good or product
 
The HAG model is what I'd call, "a smiler".
After 2 minutes, it'd be an old joke.

Fifty years ago, a pal's sister worked at an ice cream shop at a mall on Long Island.
They offered a big Birthday Bowl.
When served, sirens and bells sounded. Two employees carried it around the restaurant with frowns on their faces as they failed to reach the frantic energy level of The Keystone Cops. No customers smiled either. It was lame.
I suspect this joint was lame too. Even their own release (second link) is burdensome to read.
 
Interesting place too bad their closing. Ate their years ago with a coworker. Burger and onion rings was pretty good from what I remember. My coworker was seriously nervous when they brought out his fries. He though he'd have to eat all of it or get a whoopin LOL. Just had to finish the burger.
 
y_p_w said:
It's not the original location. The concept originated in Tempe, Arizona and another location opened in Dallas. But this one was the last and possibly the most popular location, which is closing at the end of its lease in downtown Las Vegas. The owner is citing that the tourist industry in Vegas is dying for the middle-classs people who would previously visit, and the casino/hotels are targeting people who spend more and ostensibly don't come for kitchsy stuff like what he offers. Certainly it was gimicky. And one guy even suffered a heart attack on the premises.

The Heart Attack Grill opened its only Las Vegas location in 2011 after relocating from Arizona. The restaurant became known for its hospital-themed gimmicks, including waitresses dressed as nurses and paddle-spanking guests who didn’t finish their food.​
​
Customers weighing more than 350 pounds could also eat for free, and anyone who finished the “Triple” or “Quadruple Bypass Burger” was placed in a wheelchair and escorted out by their “personal nurse.”​
​
Despite the closure, Basso says he’s looking to relocate the Heart Attack Grill elsewhere.​

We’re proud of our 21 year impact on America’s waistline. The obesity rate has risen from 30% in 2005 to nearly 45% today, and we pat ourselves on the back for leading the charge! For those loyal to HAG, do not despair. This is not the end of the world’s most controversial restaurant; it is merely the beginning of a new chapter.​
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Not surprised. The restaurant is located in downtown "old Vegas" which is the cheapest place to stay with some of the oldest hotels in the city. It's very much a tourist area rather than a resort area. High fuel prices are just discouraging these price sensitive visitors. Ironically the major resorts are now offering a low cost prefix package to try to get people in the door
 
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I ate there in 2014 on a cross country trip with my buddies and it is an interesting memory. Adult me with family would never go there. They'd "spank' you if you didn't finish your food, and yeah there was a huge public scale and if you were willing got get on it and show everyone you were over 350lbs your food was free.. Also recall lucky strikes could be ordered off the menu.
 
I have not eaten there. But we were there on a trip to vegas. My wife and I and 2 other couples , got on the scales for someone to take out picture, guys in the back.

At the last moment, all of us guys ducked down behind our wives so the scale shows 800+ lbs for the ladies! they did not find it as funny for some reason.
 
Chris142 said:
Greed has destroyed Vegas. Instead of getting a little bit from everybody they thought it was a better idea to get a lot from just a few .
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COVID reset prices and wages higher. The cost of living in LV is higher. Iirc I saw a newly built 1500 sqft townhouse with 1 garage sell for $500k.
 
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