Original Tommy’s will sell its chili burger for 80 cents on Friday as the Southern California chain marks its 80th anniversary, turning a one-day promotion into a rare throwback for a brand that has kept its roots in plain sight for generations. The deal runs from noon to 8 p.m. at all locations, and customers will be limited to three burgers while supplies last.

At the original Shack stand on Beverly and Rampart Boulevard, the company is also planning live entertainment and giveaways. The anniversary offer gives longtime fans a chance to line up for the sloppy burgers that made the chain a regional staple, and it lands at a time when many neighborhood institutions have vanished or changed hands.

Original Tommy’s began in Westlake in 1946, when Tom Koulax started selling burgers covered in his secret chili sauce. What began as a small stand grew slowly, with five new locations opening throughout the 1970s. Today, Original Tommy’s operates 32 locations in California and Nevada and remains one of the few Southern California staples to stay regional, even as knock-off restaurants have spread across the area.

The chain’s staying power has not come without strain. It closed its last San Diego location in 2023, a reminder that even a familiar name can struggle to keep storefronts afloat. Original Tommy’s also does not allow franchising, a decision that has helped preserve the family operation but has kept its footprint far smaller than many fast-food rivals.

Diane Koulax said she is proud of her father for opening the business and grateful that customers continue to embrace it. Victor Koulax thanked customers for their support and said the company looks forward to serving them for years to come. The family’s message matches the anniversary itself: after 80 years, the chain is still leaning on the same formula that built it, and Friday’s giveaway is a way of pricing nostalgia at the lowest possible level.

The celebration also underlines how unusual Original Tommy’s has become. In a market where regional chains often disappear into national systems, this one has stayed family-owned and stubbornly local, even as it has expanded beyond the original stand. Friday’s line may be long, but it is also a measure of how much weight a simple chili burger can still carry in Southern California.