Nipsey Hussle business legacy continues to grow. Marathon Burger, the restaurant brand built by Nipsey family after his death, is expanding to Las Vegas with its first location outside Los Angeles and its first drive-thru operation.
The Announcement
Samiel Asghedom, known as Blacc Sam, announced the Vegas expansion during an appearance on Power 106 Brown Bag Mornings show. Blacc Sam described Las Vegas as a city the family had long viewed as a natural destination for growth given its visibility and foot traffic.
An exact location on or near the Strip and an opening date have not been confirmed. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported reaching out to Marathon Burger for additional details. What is confirmed is that the Vegas location will be the brand first drive-thru, adding a service format the existing Los Angeles restaurants do not offer.
The Business Nipsey Envisioned
Marathon Burger opened its first restaurant on Melrose Avenue in March 2025 under Blacc Sam, the Marathon group, and restaurateur Casey Parker. Sam told the Los Angeles Times that Nipsey had frequently talked about extending the Marathon name into food, specifically a burger concept. The brothers had worked together in a restaurant as teenagers and explored opening their own spot before Nipsey music career took off.
Since the Melrose opening, the brand has grown to three Los Angeles locations plus a mobile food trailer. The menu centers on Wagyu smashburgers served with grilled onions and house-made pickles. A Venice Boardwalk location followed in 2025 as the second store.
Marathon Continues
The expansion reflects a deliberate strategy to build Marathon into a legitimate restaurant brand rather than a one-off celebrity vanity project. Blacc Sam has been methodical about growth, ensuring each location operates profitably before expanding further.
Nipsey was killed outside The Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles in 2019. Since then, his family has continued developing businesses connected to the Marathon brand across multiple industries including retail, music, and now food. The Vegas expansion takes that vision outside of LA for the first time, proving the brand can travel beyond the neighborhood where it started.
Why Vegas Makes Sense
Las Vegas attracts over 40 million visitors annually, many of whom are the exact demographic that connects with the Marathon brand and what Nipsey Hussle represented. A drive-thru format also makes the restaurant accessible to locals in a way that the smaller LA locations cannot replicate, potentially establishing Marathon Burger as a daily option rather than a destination experience.
The expansion also tests whether the brand can operate successfully outside of the Los Angeles market where Nipsey name recognition is strongest. Success in Vegas would open the door to additional cities and potentially franchise opportunities down the line.
