Heart Attack Grill: Truth in Advertising

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By: Dwayne W. Waite Jr.

A customer at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas suffered a heart attack. Why is this surprising? Perhaps the BBB should thank the Heart Attack grill for delivering on its name, for under the BBB Code of Advertising, if Heart Attack Grill didn't supply customers with at least the threat of an heart attack, the restaurant could be misleading the adventure-seeking customer.

"Taste Worth Dying For!"

The man, reportedly in his 40s, was gulping down the "Triple Bypass" burger, a hearty meal chock full of 6,000 calories. That's more than double the daily caloric intake of a young, healthy athlete. The burger contains 1.5 pounds of beef and a dozen slices of bacon. While eating the burger, the customer started to feel chest pains, and paramedics responded quickly to the scene.

"CASH ONLY. You might die before the check clears."

Jon Basso, owner of the chain expressed with sympathy to the sufferer (who is recovering, thankfully) and yelled at customers and onlookers who were laughing and taking pictures of the man having the heart attack. Basso expressed that any nose-thumbing should be directed at him and the business, not at the customers. Fair point.

In a place where people over 350 pounds can eat for free, it is impressive that it took this long for somebody to fulfill the name of the eatery. And, during that Wednesday, an article reports that the place was packed.

This probably isn't the example of "truth in advertising" people jump to hear about, but it is here nonetheless. Not only is its messaging truthful, Heart Attack Grill is very outspoken about how bad its food is. The one-liners quoted in this article are from their advertisements. We didn't make them up.

As disgusting as the food may be, being a part of a business that stands by its branding and messaging is a delicious opportunity.

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About the Author

Dwayne W. Waite Jr. is partner and principal at JDW: The Charlotte Agency, a marketing and advertising shop in Charlotte, NC. He enjoys consumer behavior, economics, and football.

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