The popular Heavy Handed smash burger bar is slated to open a second larger location on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City this April. Co-owners Max Miller and Danny Gordon started out in 2020 as a driveway pop-up in Mar Vista before graduating to a food truck and eventually a brick-and-mortar shop in Santa Monica in October 2022.
According to Miller, the menu at the new location will remain the same as its other spots. “We’ll stick to our Heavy Handed burger and fries, ice cream, and possibly more dips in the future.”
One thing the new location will have is a much larger beer and wine program, and more beer taps. “I’d like to say we have one of the more curated beer and wine lists, especially for a burger joint. We carry lots of local stuff that you don’t see everywhere, plus from around the U.S. and the world.”
Miller describes the atmosphere at the new 2,500 square-foot space as a fun, lively mom-and-pop vibe. “We wanted to create a space that feels homey and where you can stop in for a good time with friends or family, or even just yourself if you’re craving a burger and some fries.”
“Danny and I are both from the Valley, so we’ve had our eye on Studio City. We pretty much grew up on Ventura Boulevard so it’s very familiar to us. We used to park our truck Sherman Oaks and still do a lot of catering for the studios around there. We’re looking at this new space as what we would’ve wanted growing up in the Valley,” Miller explained.
As for expansion, the pair would like to see the brand “everywhere,” but for now they’re focused on getting the Studio City shop up and running. “We started the business in Danny’s garage slicing cucumbers to make pickles and making vats of our Heavy sauce. It’s really grown quickly, but from our perspective we’re going slow and steady. That said, we’re obsessed with our brand so we’d love to see it in as many places as possible.”
Heavy Handed’s Studio City outlet will be open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
