The Marathon keeps going, and now it’s at the airport. Marathon Burger, the restaurant brand carried forward by Nipsey Hussle’s family and team, has opened at LAX Terminal 1. It’s the brand’s first airport location and fifth overall, according to Los Angeles World Airports, and as covered by 24Hip-Hop.
The LAX spot serves burgers, fries, hot wings, cocktails and breakfast in a quick-service setup, plus a pop-up shop selling Marathon merch. The flagship on Melrose Avenue opened in 2025 and is known for its made-to-order Wagyu smash burger, per LAWA.
“To be able to expand and have this be our fifth location is a huge blessing,” said Nipsey’s brother, Samiel “Blacc Sam” Asghedom.
The opening came with a full L.A. celebration. Mayor Karen Bass joined a ribbon-cutting, the Crenshaw Marching Band performed, and chef Roy Choi opened a new Kogi BBQ location right alongside it. “From the streets to the skies, Kogi is eternal,” Choi said.
The IAHHM Take
Nipsey founded The Marathon brand in 2010, and he always talked about ownership, building in your own neighborhood and passing something down. This is what that looks like. A brand that started with Crenshaw roots is now one of the first things travelers see when they land in L.A.
It also means something that the Crenshaw Marching Band was there. The community Nipsey repped is part of the celebration, not just the backstory. A burger spot at an airport might sound small, but airport leases aren’t easy to get. It’s visibility, it’s steady business, and it’s the family building on what he started.
Next time you fly through LAX, are you stopping by? And which hip hop-owned business would you want to see at your home airport, CLT or RDU included?
More hip hop business and culture: Kid Cudi fans launch ‘SUPERFANS,’ a new concert podcast.
