Monty’s Good Burger closes Culver City location

Monty’s Good Burger, a groundbreaking vegan quick-service chain, closed two of its four locations on Sunday, Jan. 18.

They were at 3605 Market St., Riverside and 3849 Main St., Culver City

The chain made the announcement Friday on Instagram in a post that hinted at financial difficulties.

“We did all we could to make these locations work for as long as possible,” it reads. “Our Echo Park and Koreatown stores will remain open and hopefully give us a fighting chance to rebound.”

Attempts to reach the owners for details through Monty’s website and Instagram account didn’t get a response at press time.

Monty’s has a profile far beyond Southern California thanks to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where it launched in April 2018.

Monty’s was founded by Nic Adler, Coachella’s culinary director at the time, and Bill Fold, who was the festival’s director for many years. He was also the owner of “Monty,” the chain’s fluffy mascot. The Schnoodle has his own Instagram page, and Monty’s calls itself “dog owned and operated.”

Monty’s introduced festivalgoers to the Impossible Burger, a high-tech, plant-based alternative to ground beef. It was an emerging brand and not available in many places.

Monty’s first brick-and-mortar restaurant opened at 516 S. Western Ave. in Koreatown a few months later. The Riverside location followed. It was one of the original tenants of the Riverside Food Lab, the city’s first food hall.

The Echo Park location, at 1533 W. Sunset Blvd., opened in 2019.

Monty’s originally served “100% plant-based burgers, fries, tots and shakes,” plus several dipping sauces. It later added plant-based chicken sandwiches and hot dogs to the menu.

Representatives for Coachella could not comment on this year’s food lineup, which hasn’t been announced yet.

The festival will take place April 10-19 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. The Stagecoach Country Music Festival will follow April 24-26. Both are produced by Goldenvoice.