Download the CFO's Guide for AI and Machine Learning for FREE at https://netsuite.com/ModernMBA Thin, crispy, and seared to order, smashburgers are more than just a food trend. Even though consumers are eating out less and the fast food giants are stumbling -  it’s these tiny smashburger concepts that are thriving.  For only a few extra dollars, more Americans are ditching Big Macs and Whoppers in favor of these fresher, smashed, local alternatives.   Customer retention at McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s have plummeted and their executives are panicking.  But smashburgers are not a new invention.  Shake Shack, Five Guys, and Culver’s have built their empires on it since the 2000s.  Los Angeles has been the birthplace for food trends of the last decade like frozen yogurt, bubble tea, and hot chicken.  It was here in 2018 when the smashburgers gained popularity as a fresher, tastier variation sold exclusively by a few individuals out of their driveways.  The business gained legitimacy as the first movers grew their viral pop-ups into lean, multi-million-dollar brick-and-mortar concepts over the past 7 years.  It’s only in LA where the smashburger market is most mature, quality is highest, and competition is fiercest.  With low barriers to entry, owners rush into neighborhoods to stake market share. In this Modern MBA Original, we’re going boots-on-the-ground to understand what it takes to win from the small first-time restaurateur to the market leader who built the city’s largest independent chain— growing to 11 stores in 5 years one patty at a time. 🍔 Proudly Serving (Matt) 1617 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 110 2nd St, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 https://www.proudlyservingla.com https://www.instagram.com/proudlyservingla 🍔 Ban Ban Burger (Katy) 1644 Sawtelle Blvd #3149, Los Angeles, CA 90025 https://banbanburger.com https://www.instagram.com/banbanburger/?hl=en 🍔 Bungraze (Raj & Neil) 130 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 https://www.bungraze.com https://www.instagram.com/bungraze/ 🍔 For the Win (Santos & Peter) https://forthewinla.com https://www.instagram.com/forthewinla/ Upcoming Locations: Highland Park - 5801 N Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90042 Cypress Park - 1217 Cypress Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90065 Culver City - 3321 La Cienega Blvd Unit M, Los Angeles, CA 90016 Westwood - 1947 Westwood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90025-4613 San Diego - 1037 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109 🤳🏻 Follow Modern MBA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@modernmba 📸 Follow Modern MBA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modern.mba/ 📖 Subscribe to Modern MBA Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/modernmba/ 🕊 Follow Modern MBA Twitter: https://x.com/modern_mba 🎬 Support Modern MBA: https://buymeacoffee.com/modernmba ☕ Support Modern MBA on Patreon: https://patreon.com/modernmba