A public memorial will be held this weekend for San Diego businessman Mike “Bossman” Hardin, owner of the iconic Ocean Beach burger joint, Hodad’s.
The local burger legend will be honored with a “Celebration of Life” event at Petco Park’s Park in the Park in downtown San Diego. The tribute runs from 11:11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Hardin – also known as the “unofficial mayor of Ocean Beach” – died of natural causes last month at a Holiday Inn in Chowchilla, California. Officials later confirmed a heart attack led to his passing.
San Diegans mourned Hardin’s death, leaving flowers at a makeshift memorial in front of Hodad’s in Ocean Beach last month and posting hundreds of messages online and on NBC 7’s Facebook page.
Saturday’s tribute will be organized by Hardin’s family, employees and friends. It’s free to attend and, according to organizers, “open to everyone who ever knew Mike or knew his burgers.”
The memorial will include a special video tribute, musical performances and presentations from Hardin’s loved ones.
Hardin, who lived in San Diego from 1960 until his passing, took over Hodad’s in the 1980s from his parents. He later expanded the OB burger joint to a second location in downtown San Diego and a third in Petco Park.
Both Hardin and Hodad’s were featured on the popular TV show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” hosted by Guy Fieri.
