20-02-2025
The "unauthorized bun" at Secret Sandwich Society has a history of controversy
The alleged use of an " unauthorized bun" seems to be part of the issue behind a dramatic weekend Instagram post from Secret Sandwich Society.
Why it matters: The bun in question might just be the most controversial hamburger holder in recent history.
Catch up quick: Last Friday, the Instagram account for the West Virginia-based Secret Sandwich Society restaurant announced that the Richmond location, the only other in the nation, was operating without a legal license to use the SSS brand.
The Richmonders' Sarah Vogelsong got the scoop behind the post through troves of court documents.
Court filings allege that the Richmond location's owners haven't paid the SSS brand owners required royalties to use the name since April 21, plus a litany of other charges, Vogelsong reports.
The intrigue: Perhaps the most interesting detail in the court records centers on the Richmond location's alleged use of the wrong hamburger bun.
RVA's SSS allegedly puts its burgers on Martin's brand buns, as opposed to " split top buns from USFoods," which the licensing agreement requires them to use, per The Richmonder.
SSS brand owners declined to comment for this story. Phones to the Richmond store weren't answered.
Zoom in: The only Martin's brand buns we're aware of are Martin's Potato Rolls, the bun of choice for Shake Shack and the "undisputed heavyweight champ" of all hamburger buns, according to food blogs.
It's also the only hamburger bun we're aware has recently been the subject of a nationwide boycott.
Calls to boycott Martin's in 2022 came in response to political donations by Jim Martin, the company's board chair and former president, to a " far-right" Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate, plus his denial of the 2020 election results, CNN reported.
A spokesperson for Martin's buns told CNN at the time that the company "does not support any particular candidate or party."
The boycott was relatively short-lived, lasting roughly a summer, and was opposed by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, the candidate Jim Martin didn't support. Shapiro appeared to maintain then and now that Martin's makes a " damn good roll."
Whether Richmonders will get to experience this bun for themselves at our Secret Sandwich Society location may just be a matter for the courts to decide.
