Hamburger Hamlet began its journey in West Hollywood in 1950, founded by actor Harry Lewis and his future wife, Marilyn Lewis. Named after a character from Shakespeare’s works, the restaurant quickly became renowned for its unique take on burgers and other dishes.
Over the years, Hamburger Hamlet expanded to various locations, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Its first East Coast location opened in Bethesda, MD, in 1973 at 10400 Old Georgetown Rd within the Georgetown Square shopping center. After operating for 40 years, this location closed in 2013 and has since been home to Not Your Average Joe’s. Another Montgomery County location was situated in Gaithersburg’s Rio development, now the site of Silver Diner. Additional locations were spread across Chevy Chase/Friendship Heights (DC side), Crystal City, VA, Georgetown (DC), and Alexandria, VA.
The restaurant gained fame for its extravagant burgers, featuring inventive additions such as bacon, guacamole, and marinara, served with “little fried onions.” In the 1970s, Hamburger Hamlet was also ahead of its time with the introduction of bunless burgers. Patrons appreciated the restaurant’s coffee, as well as dishes like zucchini zircles, French onion soup, and notable Bloody Marys.
Marilyn Lewis spearheaded the brand’s expansion to the East Coast in the 1980s, dividing her time between homes in Georgetown and Bethesda. In 1987, she and Harry sold the Hamburger Hamlet franchise, which had grown to 24 locations, for $29.2 million. Harry Lewis passed away in 2013 at the age of 93, followed by Marilyn’s death in 2017. All Hamburger Hamlet locations have since closed, marking the end of an era for the iconic restaurant chain.
Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.
