Slater’s 50/50, One of Old Pasadena’s Most Popular Restaurants, Has Reportedly Been Sold; Visionary Founder is Out as President

Slater’s 50/50, the burger restaurant which pioneered the half-bacon, half-beef patty that made it one of the most popular gourmet burger restaurants in Southern California and packed customers into its Old Pasadena location, reportedly has been sold and its visionary founder stepped down as President.

Scott Slater, who started the company with one store in 2009 and led its growth to six restaurants in four years, announced the sale of the six restaurants and said he was stepping down as president of Slater’s 50/50 to give way to a “new group of dynamic restaurateurs from Elite Restaurant Group,” the Orange County Register reported Tuesday.

“By bringing in new capital for remodels, fresh ideas and plans to rapidly expand my brand not only in Southern California but also march across the country, I am confident we are walking into the next chapter of Slater’s 50/50 – ready to bring our gospel of Burgers, Bacon and Beer across the country,” Slater said in a Facebook post. “The ‘BACONfest Destiny’ is here and I am on board. With that said, I will not be stepping down from my Baron of Bacon position and will have an integral part in the improvements, expansion and vison for Slater’s 50/50.”

The OC Register said it had sought Slater’s statement after three Slater 50/50 restaurants – in Anaheim Hills, Huntington Beach, and San Diego – were listed on a state WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice on December 7.

Slater’s 50/50’s Pasadena branch, which opened in November 2012, is located at 61 N. Raymond Avenue on the corner of Union Street. The other locations are in Rancho Cucamonga and San Marcos.

Slater did not disclose the terms of the deal but said he still has a financial stake in the company, said the OC Register report.

Slater founded the first Slater’s 50/50 in Anaheim Hills in the summer of 2009. In a 2013 interview, Slater said he had been in the restaurant industry since he was 15.

“I grew up in La Crescenta which is right next door, so Pasadena is my old stomping ground,” Slater said then. “We now have 750 employees and an experienced and innovative executive team. Each restaurant has seven managers and they all run very smooth and guest-driven operations.”

At the time, the company was employing about 750 in all six branches.

Slater reportedly told the Register he was not laying off any employees and the restaurants are not closing. He said the filing was made as a courtesy to the new owners, according to the Register.

Over the past six years, Slater’s 50/50 has won numerous “Best Of” awards and is constantly mentioned among the best of the best in local, regional, and national media outlets including People, Food and Wine, Huffington Post, and The Howard Stern Show.