Hot Shoppes
Gone since December 2, 1999, when the last Hot Shoppes, in Marlow Heights, Maryland, closed. Marriott's Washington Marquis later put a Mighty Mo burger on its menu as a tribute, but no Hot Shoppe has reopened.
Last verified Nov 8, 2026
In 1927 newlyweds J. Willard and Alice Marriott opened a nine-stool A&W root beer stand in Washington, added hot chili and tamales, and renamed it the Hot Shoppe — the drive-in chain that grew into a hotel empire.
Filed under: Fast Food · the ’70s & earlier
📅 Timeline
- 1927The Marriotts opened an A&W root beer stand on 14th Street NW in Washington on May 20, soon renamed The Hot Shoppe after they added hot Mexican-style food.
- 1929The business was incorporated as Hot Shoppes, Inc.
- 1955The Mighty Mo, a triple-decker double burger, joined the menu.
- 1960There were about 70 Hot Shoppes in Washington and seven states.
- 1967Hot Shoppes Inc. renamed itself Marriott Corporation.
- 1999The last Hot Shoppes, in Marlow Heights, Maryland, closed on December 2.
❓ People also ask
Is Hot Shoppes related to Marriott hotels?
Yes. J. Willard and Alice Marriott founded Hot Shoppes in 1927, and the restaurant company renamed itself Marriott Corporation in 1967 as hotels took over the business.
What was the Mighty Mo?
A triple-decker, double-patty burger Hot Shoppes added in 1955. Fans often call it a forerunner of the 1967 Big Mac, but no document connects the two.
When did the last Hot Shoppes close?
December 2, 1999, in Marlow Heights, Maryland, as reported by the Washington Post and NPR.
🧾 Sources
- Washington Post, Last Taste of a Tradition; In Marlow Heights, Hot Shoppes Closes Its Doors and an Era (1999)
- NPR, Hot Shoppe Restaurant Closes (1999)
- WTOP, Then and Now: Hot Shoppes (2012)
- Wikipedia, Hot Shoppes (2026)