John Alleman, an unofficial spokesman for Las Vegas Heart Attack Grill restaurant, which prides itself on “taste worth dying for” – has died of a heart attack at the age of 52.
John Alleman visited the infamous restaurant, which holds the Guinness world record for the “most calorific burger”, on a daily basis and would often stand outside encouraging other people to enter.
He suffered a heart attack last week and was rushed to Sunrise Hospital, where he remained until doctors removed his life support on Monday.
The owner of the hospital-themed restaurant, “Doctor Jon” Basso told the Las Vegas Sun: “I told him if you keep eating like this, it’s going to kill ya.
“He’d say, <<I just love your place, Jon>>. He’s the only person I know who was probably at the restaurant more than I.”
John Alleman was such a valued member of the Heart Attack Grill Community that he was given his own caricature – “Patient John” – that featured on merchandise for the restaurant.
The caricature also appeared on the front of the menu, along with other hospital-themed characters representing staff.
“For the past 18 months if you happen to walk by the Heart Attack Grill you were probably approached by our new spokesman John Alleman,” the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page.
“John truly loved HAG and would spend hours every day getting the word out to anyone who would listen.”
John Alleman lived with his only relative, his brother, Paul, and had never married nor had children. He worked night shifts as a security guard at a high-rise construction site on the Vegas Strip.
The restaurant added on its Facebook page: “John was a fun spirited man who valued laughter above all else.”
“He was loved deeply and will be missed.”
John Alleman is the second Heart Attack Grill spokesman to die; in March 2011, 29-year-old Blair River passed away.
At the time, Jon Basso said River had succumbed to flu-related pneumonia.
The following year, a customer suffered a heart attack while eating a triple bypass burger in the restaurant, and two months later, a customer collapsed while eating a double bypass burger.
Speaking to Eater Vegas last year, Jon Basso said his business was “absolutely honest” and said he warned people against going to the restaurant more than once a month.
“I say it right in the door, <<Caution this establishment is bad for your health>>,” he said.
The Heart Attack Grill’s menu includes “Flatliner Fries” which are cooked in lard, and a Quadruple Bypass Burger, which weighs more than three pounds and contains 9,982 calories.
The restaurant is hospital themed and customers are referred to as “patients”, orders are called “prescriptions” and the waitresses are “nurses”.
Customers weighing more than 350 pounds are invited to unlimited free food provided they weigh themselves on an electronic platform in front of other diners.
