Pasadena Celebrates Its Heritage with Cheeseburger Week

PASADENA, CA -- A plaque at the site of the roadside stand in Pasadena where the first cheeseburger was served was unveiled Thursday as a prelude to Pasadena's Cheeseburger Week, a celebration of the quintessential American food.

In 1924, 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger first put cheese on a hamburger and served it to a customer at The Rite Spot at 1500 W. Colorado Blvd. The "Aristocratic Burger" is the first recorded instance of a hamburger with cheese being cooked and served to a customer.

A branch of the LA Financial Credit Union is now at the site.

The unveiling came three days before the start of Cheeseburger Week in Pasadena, where 40 of the city's restaurants, lounges and burger joints offer their signature burgers and some special creations to honor the invention of the cheeseburger. Even Pasadena's Dog Haus is getting in on the celebration with a burger only available during Cheeseburger Week. Instead of a loaded dog, you can get The Big MC, which features two all-beef patties, cheese and pickles on a King Hawaiian bun at Dog Haus Pasadena or Dog Haus Biergarten.

The fifth Cheeseburger Week and Cheeseburger Challenge starts January 8th and runs to 13th. Click here for Cheeseburger Week restaurants.

City News Service; Photo courtesy of Dog Haus