Which burger chain opened its first 20-stool counter on Melrose Avenue?

Johnny Rockets opened its first 20-stool counter on Melrose Avenue.

Ronn Teitelbaum founded Johnny Rockets on June 6, 1986, in Los Angeles. The original restaurant was a compact 20-stool counter on Melrose Avenue, designed as a nostalgic recreation of the malt shops and diners Teitelbaum remembered from mid-century America.

The concept combined burgers, fries, malts, cherry Cokes, vintage jukebox music, and upbeat service. Its small size did not limit its appeal: contemporary reports described customers filling all 20 red stools while lines formed outside. The restaurant reportedly served 600 to 700 customers a day soon after opening, helping the idea expand beyond its original site.

The name itself is a piece of Americana. “Johnny” refers to Johnny Appleseed, while “Rocket” evokes the Oldsmobile Rocket 88. Johnny Rockets is therefore not connected to BurgerFi, Shake Shack, or Fatburger; those are separate burger brands with different origins. The original Melrose location eventually closed on October 26, 2015, but the chain’s retro-diner identity remains rooted there.