Turbulent Times at Trump-Named Burger Group

Earlier this year, a Texas-born mini-chain called Trump Burger was born, making headlines for its unabashed pro-Trump branding and walls covered in merchandise celebrating the president.  But now, none of its four locations are going by that name, reports the Houston Chronicle.

As the business didn’t own rights to the Trump name or images, it was reportedly hit with a cease-and-desist order from the Trump Organization. (That information was provided by another area newspaper, and the Chronicle could not reach anyone at the Trump group to confirm it.) Meantime, the chain faces several other legal challenges, mainly involving a major dispute between the concept’s three principals that the Chronicle writes about in detail.

In the midst of all that, the Trump Burger’s locale in Bellville has become the President Burger; the one in Flatonia now bears signage reading MAGA Burger; the Kemah spot rebranded first as MAGA Burger USA and then as Freedom Burgers & Beer Garden; and its restaurant in central Houston closed and now appears to be in the process of reopening as Empire Pizza. (The Chronicle‘s reporter on the story confirmed all those name changes by visiting the stores in person late last month.)

For all the attention the Trump-named restaurants garnered, the food itself was so-so, the Chronicle’s Restaurant Critic Bao Ong wrote in a review that appeared a few weeks after the concept debut in early May:

“Perhaps it’s no surprise, but the over-the-top, in-your-face marketing behind the restaurant and the politics it peddles is so loud that it distracts from the food. If we cut to the chase though, most dishes are unremarkable and far from making the Chronicle’s best burgers guide.”

Click here for the full Chronicle article; please note it is behind a paywall.