Kemah’s Trump Burger Files Lawsuit, Accuses Landlord of Illegally Seizing Location
KEMAH, TEXAS — A Donald Trump-themed burger joint in Kemah is at the center of a legal battle after its owners claim the landlord unlawfully seized control of the restaurant and continued operating it under the same name — without permission.
The lawsuit, filed June 24 by Trump Burger Kemah LLC, accuses landlord Archie Patterson and his affiliated companies — 409 Bradford LLC and All Tex Personnel LCC — of wrongfully evicting the restaurant’s staff and taking over its day-to-day operations.
According to court documents, the dispute came to a head on June 7, when employees of Trump Burger Kemah were forcibly removed from the property under threat of law enforcement. The defendants allegedly claimed that no-trespass orders and restraining orders were in place against certain staff members.
Despite the eviction, the lawsuit claims that Patterson continued operating the restaurant, all while keeping the Trump Burger name and funneling customer payments into his own bank account. As of publication, Patterson has not publicly responded to the lawsuit, and no legal counsel for him was listed in the filing.
Dispute Over Lease and Liquor License
Restaurant manager and Trump Burger franchise owner Roland Beainy says the takeover was sudden and came without any formal warning. He alleges that neither a lease violation notice nor any documentation was presented before the property was taken over.
Beainy signed a five-year lease in January 2025, but only three months later, the lawsuit says Patterson tried to alter the lease by asking Beainy to sign a new addendum — a request Beainy refused.
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Further complicating matters is a disagreement over the restaurant’s liquor license. According to the complaint, Patterson retained ownership of the license but had agreed to transfer it to Beainy upon receipt of a $20,000 payment. Though Beainy claims he paid the full amount, the transfer allegedly never happened. Instead, Patterson reportedly made repeated excuses and delays.
Post-Takeover Confusion
Adding to the tension, the complaint says Patterson requested that Beainy continue paying restaurant staff even after they were locked out of the building and excluded from operations.
Beainy and Trump Burger Kemah LLC are now seeking damages related to the cost of property upgrades, lost revenue, the misuse of the Trump Burger brand name, and the loss of access to the restaurant. The lawsuit also demands compensation for business materials that were left behind during the takeover.
More Than Just Burgers
The Kemah location of Trump Burger had only recently opened in March 2025, distinguishing itself from the other Texas locations by offering live music and a dance floor in addition to its political-themed burgers. The brand operates three other restaurants in Bellville, Flatonia, and Houston.
The case remains pending as both sides prepare for a potential legal showdown over ownership, operations, and brand identity.
