| THENnow In 1948 a young woman named Marilyn left her home in Cleveland, Ohio, and headed to Los Angeles to be a dress designer. This being LA, she soon met a young a contract actor in Hollywood. On their first date, Harry Lewis shared his two main goals in life-to become a famous actor and play Hamlet, and to operate his own restaurant. Four months later (they were still dating, showing that Hollywood relationships lasted much longer in those days) she spotted a small building for lease on the Sunset strip and knew it was the perfect place for a restaurant. Before Harry had a chance to say "To lease or not to lease" Marilyn had done the deal and in October 1950 the first Hamburger Hamlet opened. The restaurant was an immediate success with a packed dining room every night of the week and a city-wide reputation for offering "marvelous food and drink". It quickly became a hang-out for the stars when they wanted great food and a refreshing cocktail in a relaxed setting, and was frequently mentioned in the celebrity gossip columns (some things about Hollywood never change). Based on success and a loyal customer base, the Hamlet began to expand. Seems that offering delicious food made of quality ingredients, and serving it in stylish yet relaxed restaurants was popular all around LA...and beyond. After opening several Hamlets in Southern California, Marilyn Lewis opened the first Hamburger Hamlet in the Washington, D.C. area. |