Hamburger Hamlet opened its first location in West Hollywood in 1950 and later opened additional locations in the Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. metro areas. The restaurant was started by actor Harry Lewis and his future wife Marilyn Lewis And was named for one of Shakespeare’s most famous characters.
In 1973, Bethesda, MD location was the first to open on the east coast. It was located at 10400 Old Georgetown Rd in the Georgetown Square shopping center and closed 40 years later in 2013. It has been the home of not Your Average Joe’s for the last decade. There was an additional Montgomery County location in Gaithersburg’s Rio development where Silver Diner is located today. Other nearby locations included Chevy Chase/Friendship Heights (DC side), Crystal City, VA, Georgetown (DC), and Alexandria, VA.
The restaurant was known for its extravagant burgers that included adding bacon, guacamole, marinara, and other items that weren’t usually added to burgers at the time, served with “little fried onions.” They even started serving bunless burgers back in the 70s. Many loved the restaurant’s coffee, others came for dishes like the zucchini zircles or French onion soup, while some have fond memories of the Bloody Marys.
Owner Marilyn Lewis led the expansion to the east coast, moving here in the 80s. While here, she lived between two homes in Georgetown and Bethesda. Harry and Marilyn sold the Hamburger Hamlet franchise, which had 24 locations at its peak, for $29.2 million in 1987. Harry passed away at the age of 93 in 2013 and Marilyn passed away in 2017. All Hamburger Hamlets have since closed down.
- Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.