Little Big Burger

Little Big Burger was founded in Portland, Oregon, in 2010 by Micah Camden and Katie Poppe. The founders established the business as a focused hamburger concept built around smaller-format burgers rather than the oversized portions common in parts of the American burger market. Its menu developed around quarter-pound beef burgers, vegetarian burgers, fries, and shakes. Truffle fries became one of the brand’s recognizable offerings, while hand-spun milkshakes supported its premium fast-casual presentation. The company’s Portland origin shaped its regional identity. Little Big Burger expanded beyond its initial market and, by 2019, operated in California, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Oregon remained particularly important, with approximately a dozen locations reported in the Portland metropolitan area. The multi-state footprint was selective rather than national, positioning the chain as a regional restaurant brand with a strong Pacific Northwest base. In 2015, the founders sold the business to Chanticleer Holdings. The transaction placed Little Big Burger within a broader restaurant investment portfolio and marked a transition from an independently founded local concept to a brand managed under corporate ownership. Later reference material identifies Amergent Hospitality Group as the parent company. The available sources do not provide a complete account of all subsequent ownership changes, executive appointments, store openings, or closures. Labor relations became a visible part of the chain’s later history. In 2019, workers sought to unionize. In May 2024, the United States Department of Labor determined that 14 Little Big Burger locations in Oregon and Washington had withheld tips from employees and ordered payment of $316,500. The action was both a regulatory matter and a serious labor-compliance controversy for the brand. In July 2024, Amergent Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Because the cited reference material does not establish the final outcome of the bankruptcy process or provide a verified current store list, the brand’s present operating status remains uncertain. Little Big Burger’s documented history therefore spans a Portland founding, regional expansion, acquisition by a restaurant holding company, labor-organizing activity, a wage-and-tip enforcement action, and parent-company bankruptcy.

• 2024

  Tip-withholding enforcement action

  [1]Little Big Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  The U.S. Department of Labor ordered payment of $316,500 after finding that 14 Oregon and Washington locations had withheld tips from workers.

• 2024

  Parent company entered Chapter 11

  [1]Little Big Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  Amergent Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, leaving the brand’s subsequent operating position uncertain.

• 2019

  Workers sought to unionize

  [1]Little Big Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  Little Big Burger workers pursued unionization, bringing labor representation into the brand’s public history.

• 2019

  Multi-state footprint documented

  [1]Little Big Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  Reference material documented locations in California, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, including about a dozen in the Portland metropolitan area.

• 2015

  Business sold to Chanticleer Holdings

  [1]Little Big Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  The founders sold Little Big Burger to Chanticleer Holdings, moving the brand into a larger restaurant investment portfolio.

• 2010

  Little Big Burger founded in Portland

  [1]Little Big Burgeren.wikipedia.org

  Micah Camden and Katie Poppe founded Little Big Burger in Portland, Oregon.

A regional fast-casual burger brand emphasizing compact burgers, vegetarian options, fresh preparation, and premium-style sides such as truffle fries.

• Beef burgers

  Quarter-pound burgers

  Quarter-pound hamburgers form the core of Little Big Burger’s menu. They represent the brand’s compact burger format and are central to its fast-casual identity. The available reference material identifies the category but does not provide a complete list of individual recipes, toppings, or current availability.

• Vegetarian burgers

  Vegetarian burgers

  Vegetarian burgers are a documented part of the Little Big Burger menu and extend the brand beyond beef-based offerings. The cited material does not specify the exact patty ingredients, recipes, or whether the same selection remains available after the parent company’s bankruptcy filing.

• Side dishes

  Truffle fries

  Truffle fries are one of Little Big Burger’s specifically documented menu items. They contribute a premium-style element to the chain’s otherwise focused burger-and-sides format. The sources do not establish the exact preparation method or the current status of the item.

• Beverages and desserts

  Hand-spun milkshakes

  Hand-spun milkshakes are associated with Little Big Burger’s menu and brand presentation. They complement the burger and fries offering and reinforce the chain’s casual, made-to-order positioning. Flavor varieties and present-day availability are not specified in the cited reference.

• 2024

  Tip-withholding findings at Oregon and Washington locations

  In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor found that 14 Little Big Burger locations in Oregon and Washington had withheld tips from workers and ordered the company to pay $316,500.

  Source

Read more

• 2024

  Parent-company Chapter 11 filingOther

  Background

  Amergent Hospitality Group was identified as Little Big Burger’s parent company before the filing.

  Action taken

  Amergent Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

  Aftermath

  The filing introduced uncertainty regarding Little Big Burger’s ownership, store network, and continuing operations. The available reference does not establish the final bankruptcy outcome.

  Source

• 2015

  Sale to Chanticleer HoldingsM&A

  Background

  Little Big Burger had grown from its Portland founding into a regional burger chain before the transaction.

  Action taken

  The business was sold to Chanticleer Holdings.

  Aftermath

  The brand became part of a larger restaurant investment portfolio. The cited material does not provide transaction terms or a detailed account of the immediate operational effects.

  Source

1. 1Little Big Burgeren.wikipedia.org