Where Is Fat Shack From Shark Tank Today?

The restaurant business is arguably one of the most prevalent industries in contemporary American society. There's a burger joint on every corner, a taco truck parked near all your city's major junctions, and if you're lucky, a few noodle shops serving up steaming hot, richly-seasoned dishes. In fact, the restaurant industry in the United States was expected to net nearly $900 billion in 2022. 

Many potential restaurateurs have appeared on "Shark Tank," hoping to thrust their delicious products into the mainstream. However, the business-minded sharks are well aware of the potential pitfalls inherent to opening a restaurant, which includes high operational costs and finding customers in the well-saturated restaurant marketplace.

Baby's Badass Burgers tickled the sharks' taste buds, but concerns regarding the company's plans to move away from its successful truck to a brick-and-mortar location prevented it from securing an investment. Cupbop, a Korean barbecue food truck, found more success, ultimately earning a $1 million investment from Mark Cuban. Another eatery, Fat Shack, also convinced the sharks to open up their wallets and has since proven to be an excellent investment.

The founders of Fat Shack, Tony Armenti and Kevin Gabauer, pitched their business on the season 10 finale of "Shark Tank," which aired on May 12, 2019. The company hosts the video of the appearance on its official YouTube channel. In the pitch, Armenti and Gabauer asked for a $250,000 investment, which would come with a 7.5% share of the company. The pair began by presenting the sharks with a plate of leafy greens but soon revealed to an amused Tank that their actual business dealt in gargantuan sandwiches and finger-licking fried foods.

Fat Shack's founders told the sharks that their business had earned over $22 million dollars since their 2010 opening, and a feeding frenzy ensued. Four of the five investors were willing to fork over the full $250,000 , but the team went with Mark Cuban and talked him down to a 15% share. The duo swayed Cuban by imploring him to diversify his investment portfolio.

In an interview with QSR Magazine, Armenti and Gabauer explained that Mark Cuban immediately proved to be an invaluable business asset. The duo correctly predicted that Cuban's Texan ties would bring business to the Fort Worth Fat Shack location. They also said that Cuban was an active participant in the business, and frequently brought the duo fresh ideas.

The first Fat Shack franchise didn't open until 2015, five years after the restaurant's founding, but locations have been popping up at a near-exponential rate ever since. Currently, there are 28 Fat Shack locations  scattered across the country. And business is booming. In 2020, the average Fat Shack franchise earned over $1 million. 

Fat Shack's menu has stayed true to the company's indulgent roots. Diners can stuff themselves with the titular Fat Sandwiches, which are jam-packed with rich meats, gooey cheeses, and fried goodies, then finish the massive meal with a deep-fried Twinkie. In early 2023, the original Fat Shack location in Fort Collins, Colorado dropped a culinary bomb with the introduction of new menu items, including the syrup-soaked Chicken N' Waffle tower and Cheesy Tots.