Everyone on the East Coast knows the look of shock you see on a Californian’s face when you tell them that you have never been to In-N-Out Burger, but the absolute best burgers come not from the big regional chains but from the local restaurants, where people in the know remember not just the food, but the décor, the longtime employees, and even the route to get there by car or on foot. Hawkins House of Burgers is one such restaurant, and after it survived a pandemic that caused many thousands of family-owned businesses to close permanently, even if they had been operating for decades, it found the California Department of Transportation threatening to knock down the restaurant over a quibble. Understandably, the community rallied around Hawkins as it faced such an unreasonable request, and now it seems that Hawkins House of Burgers is here to stay in its original location. If your company is facing demands from the state about the land on which your business is located, contact a San Diego real estate dispute lawyer.
After 80 Years, Caltrans Lays Claim to Tiny Corner of Hawkins House of Burgers Kitchen
In 1939, James Henry Hawkins and his father moved from Arkansas to Watts in South Los Angeles, and they opened Hawkins House of Burgers, a hamburger stand which soon developed into a burger restaurant with indoor seating. The restaurant has prospered throughout the decades and overcome obstacles such as in the 1970s, when the state of California tried to buy the land where the restaurant operated to build Highway 105, but Hawkins refused until the state gave up. Today, James’ Hawkins’ youngest daughter Cynthia operates the restaurant with her daughters and grandchildren, meaning that the restaurant has been in the family for five generations.
Hawkins House of Burgers stayed afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic by selling burgers for take-out and delivery orders, and by the summer of 2021, things seemed to be going in the right direction. In June 2021, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) notified Cynthia Hawkins that part of the restaurant, specifically a corner of the kitchen, was infringing on public land, and she would have to modify the building to avoid the area of land within 60 days. Hawkins was incredulous, and the news spread quickly that Caltrans would demand the removal of part of the restaurant, when its location had never been a problem for 82 years. Watts residents, the Black Chamber of Commerce, state legislators, and local radio personalities rallied in support of Hawkins, and this month Caltrans announced that it will negotiate a solution that will allow Hawkins House of Burgers to stay in its present location.
Contact Foldenauer Law Group About License Disputes Between Businesses and the State
A California business dispute lawyer can help you stand up for your rights when public entities attempt to shut down your business. Contact Foldenauer Law Group, APLC in San Diego, California to discuss your case.