One of Los Angeles’s hottest burgers is about to make a major splash in Venice. After receiving a warm reception for its Melrose shop in March, Marathon Burger will debut its second location on Saturday, May 31. Samiel “Blacc Sam” Asghedom (brother of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle) and his team will sling crispy-edged smash burgers on the Venice Beach Boardwalk next to the pickup basketball courts and Muscle Beach in a space once occupied by another LA burger favorite — the Window.
In fall 2024, Marathon Burger started as a pop-up in Fairfax’s former Johnny Rockets space while interior construction was underway. Since opening for full service in March, fans queue up regularly to order wagyu smashburgers, chicken wings, and fries, including a regular stream of notable music industry visitors like Young Thug, Boosie, and retired NFL player Marshawn Lynch.
Though a Venice outpost was in Asghedom’s sights for the future, he didn’t plan to open a second Marathon so quickly. “When opportunities present themselves, you gotta kind of jump on it,” Asghedom. “We had an opportunity to present itself for that location on the boardwalk, and I’m like, ‘Oh, we gotta do it.’”
The Marathon team has quickly transformed the red-and-yellow exterior into its signature white with red and black accents for this weekend’s opening. Asghedom says the team will serve a pared-down menu with smash burgers, hot wings, and a vegan patty. They’ll also debut a new double cheeseburger with grilled onions, lettuce, Fresno peppers, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and a proprietary sauce. Breakfast will run from 7 a.m. until noon, with French toast waffles, a breakfast sandwich, orange juice, and coffee; ice cream, a boardwalk favorite, will be served daily. The Venice location will omit the salads, mushroom burger, and milkshakes served at Melrose to help eliminate long wait times. Outdoor seating is available.
Asghedom and Hussle grew up working in a family restaurant. Hussle launched his Marathon brand in 2010 and was active in opening businesses in Los Angeles until he was murdered in 2019. Fans have long appreciated Hussle’s focus on economic independence for Black entrepreneurs — the Marathon brand is music, fashion, entertainment, and restaurants. Asghedom says that future locations are in the works. “We have a location we’re eyeing, but I don’t know if it will be location four or five. We’re trying to figure out the best strategic location,” says Asghedom.
The Venice Beach Boardwalk consistently has its share of restaurant flips and closures. After the Window closed, it became the vegan fast-food restaurant Mr. Charlie’s, which eventually split into a group of adjacent restaurants that opened in early 2025: Epic Taco, Ubatuba Açaí, Mr. B’s Mediterranean Grill, and Cane Man. In its new location at one of Southern California’s most famous tourist draws, Marathon Burger has a good chance of being embraced by Venice locals and travelers during the high-volume, fast-paced summer season.
Starting May 31, 2025, Marathon Burger Venice will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with late-night delivery from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. at 1827 Oceanfront Walk, Venice, CA, 90291.
