Marathon Burger Brings Nipsey’s Legacy to Venice Beach

1827 Ocean Front Walk

When you think of Venice Beach, you picture sun-soaked palm trees, street performers, and the rhythmic bounce of basketballs on pavement. Now add to that mix the aroma of crispy-edged smashburgers, sizzling wings, and the spirit of community uplift. On May 31, 2025, Marathon Burger—the restaurant founded by Nipsey Hussle’s brother Samiel “Blacc Sam” Asghedom—opened its second LA outpost on the iconic Venice Boardwalk.

Their first location, born as a Fairfax pop-up in fall 2024 and later cemented on Melrose in March, quickly captured attention. What drew crowds wasn’t just the juicy wagyu patties or booming beats. It was the energy: authentic, unapologetic, rooted in a promise that resonated beyond the plate. By week two on Melrose, fans already queued daily for wings, fries, and stories shared over shared meals—attended by celebrities like Young Thug, Boosie, and Marshawn Lynch  .

But Blacc Sam didn’t plan ahead. He seized the opportunity when a coveted corner spot across from the legendary Muscle Beach and paddleball courts became available. “When opportunities present themselves, you gotta jump on it,” he told Eater LA  . And jump they did.

Within a matter of weeks, the iconic Melrose red-and-yellow storefront was reborn in Venice white, red, and black—vibrant, warm, welcoming   . Standing at 1827 Ocean Front Walk, the restaurant not only serves food—it serves presence. Outdoor dining fills quickly under umbrellas, while the smell of smashed beef and grilling onions drifts toward the courts where streetballers run their game.

The menu is streamlined for speed and flavor: smashburgers, hot wings, a vegan patty, and a special double cheeseburger stacked with grilled onions, Fresno peppers, pickles, proprietary sauce, ketchup, and mustard  . Breakfast runs from 7 a.m. to noon and includes French toast waffles and sandwiches. Ice cream makes a sweet cameo too. What’s missing? Salads, mushroom burgers, milkshakes—sacrifices made intentionally to avoid long waits.

It’s a vibe. Not fine dining. Not cheap fast food. But something in between—anchored in street culture, built for community.

For residents and tourists, this arrival is a taste of legacy. Nipsey Hussle—entrepreneur, activist, legend—made economic independence central to his message. Through Marathon, that message lives on: business growth that uplifts, profits that circulate in Black hands. And Venice Beach? It’s a bold, hopeful backdrop  .

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“Marathon Burger Venice is home,” reads their Instagram post, capturing the love and intention behind opening “store #2”  . It feels deliberate—that second location wasn’t just expansion, but elevation: embedding Black-owned enterprise in one of California’s cultural heartbeats.

This opening does more than feed appetites—it nourishes dreams. Think about it: a Black-owned business anchoring itself at Venice Boardwalk—a high-traffic, high-visibility space long dominated by corporate and tourist chains. That visibility matters. It changes perceptions. It changes spending. It changes opportunity.

For Black women between 34 and 44—many of whom juggle family, careers, and legacy thinking—this symbolizes something tangible: creative visions realized, generational wealth in motion, representations of leadership in public spaces where they matter, too.

Marathon Burger’s second location also foreshadows what’s next. Piscataway, Newark, Austin—or deeper into L.A. proper? Blacc Sam teases future locations in strategic spots—but maybe even more importantly, future opportunities for collaboration, hiring, and community partnerships. Maybe a youth program. Maybe something in fashion. Legacy doesn’t stay within four walls.

So next time you stroll past paddleball courts on Ocean Front Walk, follow the scent of melting cheese and ambition. Pull up to Marathon Burger Venice. It’s more than a burger. It’s a chapter—written in grill marks and gritty hope. It’s Black entrepreneurship on a boardwalk. It’s trust in vision and in the people who built it. And as summer unfolds down the coast, there’s a bench with your name on it—and a smashburger waiting.