Habit Burger Chain Sold for $375 Million
(courtesy photo)
By edhat staff
The Habit Burger Grill chain has sold its non-Santa Barbara County locations for $375 million.
The fast-casual restaurant focuses on char-grilled burgers, chicken sandwiches, hearty salads, ahi tuna sandwiches, milkshakes, and more.
Yum Brands Inc., who owns Taco Bell, Piza Hut, and KFC fast-food chains, announced the acquisition Monday from their Irvine headquarters.
The Habit on Hollister Ave (courtesy photo)
The original location, located at 5735 Hollister Ave, opened in 1969 selling burgers for 24 cents each. In 1980, local brothers Brent and Bruce Reichard purchased the place and grew it to a 24-location chain by 2007 with an investment firm holding a majority of the stake.
The Habit Burger Grill went public in 2014 and soon expanded to nearly 300 locations in the United States and China after the Reichard's sold all Habit locations outside of Santa Barbara County.
The Reichard Brothers issued a statement Tuesday clarifying the Santa Barbara County Habit Burger Grill locations continue to be 100% wholly owned and operated by the original founding family and the purchase by Yum Brands is limited to those outside the county.
“There will be no impact to our locations in Santa Barbara County from the impending acquisition of the national Habit chain by Yum! Brands. The 8 Santa Barbara County Habit locations are still locally owned, by our family, as they have been for decades. There will be no changes to our operations, menu, or workforce. We remain committed as a local family business to our original motto 'There is no substitute for quality', and we appreciate your continued loyal support," said original founder and CEO Brent Reichard.
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Eat there every Sunday after church. Thank you Habit for always a quality, delicious meal. You are the Best!
$375m seems cheap for a popular and growing chain of 300+ restaurants
$375M and assumption of a mighty debt load.
I love the habit...great burgers !! Regarding the history of the habit, though, I know a few old timers in Isla Vista who swear that Hamburger Habit started in Isla Vista in the late 60's, where South Coast Deli is now on Pardall Rd , then moved to Old Town Goleta a short time after.
I think Rusty's Pizza and Kinko's started in Isla Vista too.
Congratulations to the Reichard Family!
"A meal without meat, is like a day without sunshine"..
GO MEATLESS! For the planet, for your body, for animals.
How do I get woke? I wanna be woke.....woke by the duhlishuss schmell of thick W-cut hickory-smoked bacon and plump Jimmay-Dane sausage patties that is. Wayz them bisscutts and gravee boat?
If God had meant for us to be vegan, she wouldn't have made pigs out of bacon.
PSTARSR, a vegan, an atheist and a crossfitter walk into a bar. How do I know? He told me within the first 20 seconds.
go somewhere else with your post
Not a bad burger, but fallout of the chopped lettuce is a sloppy mess. I prefer a few leaves to the handful of shredded iceberg.
Congrats to the family on decades of business success, and leadership in Santa Barbara! We’re regulars at Milpas Hamburger Habit: the best, including menu options! (The only thing I’d improve are French Fries.)
Best thing on the Menu is the Cobb Salad...trust me.
Not the best burger I have ever had but very good they should have held out for more money.
Hamburger Habit the old name
After reading this, the headline is super misleading compared to the storyline. The story is "Santa Barbara County Habits remain locally owned, not part of $375 million sale."
Come on, Edhat. You're supposed to be a local news site...let's not click bait the puppies here with misleading headlines.
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Headline is accurate. The Habit Burger CHAIN has sold... ya know, the one's with over 200 locations. The local stores are the same owner.
I am confused...if it originally opened in 1969, how is it that Brent Reichard, who purchased the original location in 1980, is described as the original founder?
They're Mom started the business in 1969. Her sons Brent & Bruce took it over in the 80s.
What was the name of the burger place at the same location prior to The Habit?
Most of my friends just call it ‘The Habit’
I don't remember Habit Burger, but I heard that. I think that was prior to 90 when I moved here.
HA HA! It's the best burger ever!
Me too. I liked that name better. Cal Taco is a favorite too. They were once owned by Hamburger Habit.
If I am correct: it was Habit Burger, then Hamburger Habit and now The Habit Burger Grill. I still call it Hamburger Habit...guess it's my bad Habit now. Lol
Thank you! I still call it Hamburger Habit.
Hamburger Habit
They need to bring back the chili dogs and burgers back to all locations
...at the old town location, btw.
If you order it they will serve it. It's not on the menu. I saw like 10 chili dogs there a couple weeks ago. Kind of like in-n-out's secret menu apparently.
Actually, you just need to hit refresh after your post and it won't show up 5X.
Actually they use to have it at the one on milpas and at the Ventura one by chuckie cheese but not anymore
Fyi they have always had the Chili Burgers in Goleta. It is the only spot that has ever had it. Let's wish for the draft beers to come back instead!
Agreed!
In-N-Out is way better than The Habit. I wish that all Habit burgers in Santa Barbara County were turned into In-N-Out.
Hmm...so is it a good Burger you are buying or a T-shirt? Personally I am glad the Habit just sticks to good old yummy grub! Low prices and happy faces.
You don't need double the hamburger patties to get more beef on your bun at the Habit! I'd even go as far as to say there is more hamburger on a single char than a double-double. Plus the meat at the Habit is way better too. As the motto says, "No substitute for quality". Now I am craving my Teriyaki C and they close in 15 minutes. See ya
I agree with the replies, the Habit has FAR better tasting meat than In N Out, and the cheese appears to be of better quality as well. When given a choice, I always choose Habit over In N Out.
The In-N-Out Double Double hamburger has plenty of beef. The Habit charges $1 for a single slice of processed cheese. In-N-Out uses real chedder cheese and does not charge extra. In-N-Out has great 50's vintage car T-shirts and clothing for sale. The Habit charburger is OK, but is sort of bland.
Oh hell no! The Habit blows In n Out away! There is more lettuce and onion, than hamburger, on an In n Out burger. Habit has fresh flame grilled char burgers and the meat is the main item on the bun! So glad our Habits will remain the same mouthwatering place we have grown to love! Thank you to the Bros for keeping it real in Santa Barbara! You can still get your Chili Burgers in Goleta. Trust me it is worth the drive.
MRTRUMP - as usual... NO.
Just different. Enjoy them both.
Going to ruin Habit like they did Baja Fresh. At least the SB locations won't be affected... hopefully
when you say
"hopefully" it implies there is a risk. but there is not. just clarifying what was already written in the article.
right thats what i said at least SB locations not affected.
goleta SB locations are still locally owned. so dont worry, yet