Heart Attack Grill Spokesman Dies From a Heart Attack

The Heart Attack Grill's unofficial spokesman John Alleman passed away yesterday from — yes, it's true — a heart attack that he suffered last week, according to the restaurant's Facebook page and confirmed by the Las Vegas Sun. Alleman joins a sadly lengthening list of people whose health scares are in some way affiliated with the gimmicky restaurant, home of the 9,982-calorie quadruple bypass burger. Not only has the Heart Attack Grill seen women collapse and men suffer actual heart attacks while dining at the restaurant, but another spokesman for the restaurant died nearly two years ago at the age of 29.

Alleman wasn't a paid spokesman for the restaurant with its gut-busting and highly caloric menu, but owner Jon Basso told the Las Vegas Sun that Alleman used to stand outside the restaurant daily to encourage people to dine there. While Basso says he warned Alleman against eating there so often, he writes on the restaurant's Facebook page that Alleman was rewarded for his allegiance: "So colorful was John's sales pitch that we placed him on the cover of our menu. He was so popular with the customers that last summer we gave him his own "Patient John" clothing line on our website. John truly loved HAG and would spend hours every day getting the word out to anyone who would listen."

Alleman was taken the Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas last week, and his brother decided to remove him from life support yesterday at age 52 (Basso says he was also at the beside). Heart Attack Grill employees will be able to pay their respects as Basso — who has previously been totally unapologetic about his restaurant whose tagline is "Taste... worth dying for" — writes, "For a great person like John to just fade away into the night without funeral attendance would truly be an injustice to his wonderful life. For that reason the Heart Attack Grill shall close in observance of John's funeral once the exact date is determined." Here's a memorial video posted to the restaurant's Facebook page:

Video: John Alleman 1958-2013

· Heart Attack Grill [Facebook via Gawker]
· Heart Attack Grill spokesman dies from heart attack [LV Sun]
· Death knocking at door of Heart Attack Grill's unofficial spokesman [LV Sun]
· All Heart Attack Grill Coverage on Eater [-E-]