MWBE Small Business Promotion Week: Fatburger
By Office of Communication
Posted on September 26, 2022, September 26, 2022

MWBE Small Business of the Month, Fatburger

Maisha Bankhead, co-owner of the Arlington Fatburger franchise, was honored to play a part in bringing Fatburger to Texas, and following in the footsteps of another amazing, woman-of-color, Fatburger’s creator, Lovie Yancey.

“In 1950, she wanted a place for people of all colors to get a hot meal because back then in Los Angeles, they would stop serving people of color after a certain time,” Bankhead expressed. She was one of the first black women to ever franchise a business. Even though we didn’t get to meet Lovie, in our own way, I feel like we are following in her legacy.”

Originally from Los Angeles, Bankhead has lived in south Grand Prairie for 15 years. When she first moved to the DFW area, Bankhead found herself hanging out and spending her time in Arlington, saying “Arlington was her city.” So, when she had the opportunity to open her second Fatburger franchise in Texas, she was excited her realtor recommended Champions Park in Arlington.

“I absolutely love this location. There are some days where it’s mellow and at night it comes alive,” Bankhead said. “This is our first full Cowboys season so we are excited, and the community has been very receptive.”

Bankhead and her fellow owners opened the Arlington Fatburger location a year ago, and they are about to celebrate their first anniversary on September 27, 2022. The One Year Anniversary Celebration will be on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, and anyone can come in that day and buy a $1 Original Hamburger with the purchase of any side and any drink.

Fatburger offers first responder and teacher discounts. And in their second year, they are excited to get more involved in the Arlington community. Their hope is to be more than just a burger restaurant.

To learn more about Fatburger or see their menu, you can visit their website https://fatburger.com/ or follow Bankhead on Instagram @maifatlife to see behind the scenes content, like how they make the TripleX burger for the TripleX Burger Challenge. Or you can visit the One Start Development Center, on the second floor at City Hall, during ‘Small Business Promotion Week’, September 26, 2022 through September 30, 2022, where the iCARE Ambassador team of the Planning & Development Services Department will be promoting this business as the Small Business of the Week. The department is also hosting Customer Appreciation Week during the same time and will be providing refreshments and bottled water for the customers visiting the Small Business Promotion table.

The City of Arlington is highlighting minority-owned and/or women-owned small businesses throughout 2022. Canales Furniture, another Small Business of Arlington, who has grown substantially in the last few years, wants to give back to the community and is sponsoring this program with the Planning & Development Services Department for the year 2022. In their new headquarters at 102 E. I-20 Highway, they have dedicated a training room for their growing community, including free English-speaking classes, citizenship classes, and teaching small businesses on how to utilize social media as a marketing tool.

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