Wahlburgers

Wahlburgers is a casual dining burger restaurant and bar chain. It is owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, actors Donnie Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg. As of January 2021, there are 49 Wahlburgers locations in the United States, two in Canada and one in Germany.[1] The company has plans to expand to Australia and New Zealand, and previously had a restaurant in London. The company also operates a few food trucks in the US.[2]

This article is about the restaurant owned by the Wahlberg family. For the A&E reality television show, see Wahlburgers (TV series). For the New York state area burger, see Tom Wahl's.
"Wahlburger" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Walburger or Wallburger.

Wahlburgers
TypePrivately held company
IndustryFood service
FoundedHingham, Massachusetts, 2011 (2011)
Founder
Headquarters
Hingham 
Area served
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Germany
Key people
John Fuller (CEO)
ProductsHamburgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, cocktails, desserts and merchandise
ServicesRestaurant, bar and take-out
Website

The chain was the subject of the television series Wahlburgers, which debuted on A&E in 2014 and aired for 10 seasons.

History

In 2011, an equity group that includes Paul Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, and Mark Wahlberg licensed the name "Wahlburger" from Tom Wahl's for use in their own restaurant.[3][4] The family also owns and operates another restaurant named Alma Nove, which opened prior to Wahlburgers. Its name is derived from the name of the brothers' mother and the fact that she had nine children ("nove" being Italian for nine).[5][6] The first Wahlburgers opened in Hingham, Massachusetts,[7] near Alma Nove, the pre-existing restaurant operated by Paul Wahlberg.

Because of the success of the restaurant, a reality television series Wahlburgers was launched on January 22, 2014 on A&E.[8] In 2014, Wahlburgers received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.[9] The show concluded in 2019 after 10 seasons.[10]

A second location opened in Toronto, Ontario[11][12] on November 15, 2014 after a soft launch earlier in the month.

Wahlburgers in Orlando, Florida

On February 18, 2016, an Orlando, Florida, location held its red carpet grand opening. Chef Paul and Mark were in attendance.[13] Wahlburgers announced its first South Carolina location in 2016, at Myrtle Beach's Broadway at the Beach with three more Carolinas locations planned owned by franchiser Greg Pranzo.[14] The Raleigh location opened in May 2018[15] and closed seven months later with the sheriff padlocking the doors[16] and referring inquiries to the landlord with reports of bounced paychecks.[17] Work on a planned location in South Charlotte had stopped as of early December 2018 according to media reports.[18]

In January 2017, Wahlburgers announced a joint venture with the Cachet Hospitality Group and businessman Farooq Arjomand to expand the Wahlburgers chain into Asia. The expansion plan was to open 100 restaurants in China and the surrounding region over the following five years.[19][20] The deal later fell through.[10]

In December 2017, Wahlburgers and supermarket chain Meijer announced a partnership to bring Wahlburgers restaurants to Meijer stores in Michigan and Ohio.[21]

Wahlburgers opened their first location in the Upper East Side of Manhattan with a franchisee in May 2017. In October 2018, the restaurant was closed by the New York City Department of Health for failing to comply with health code regulations. The restaurant was permanently closed the next month.[22] Another franchise location planned for Times Square never opened after two years of renting a location,[23] and a third location at Coney Island has operated only seasonally in 2017 and 2018, staying open only for the busiest summer season.[24] In December 2017, two Wahlburgers restaurants opened in Los Angeles.[25] Prior to the opening, part owner Mark Wahlberg applied to have assault crimes on his record pardoned; in his application he stated that his primary reason for seeking the pardon was to pursue a concessionaire's license in California as part of his effort to bring Wahlburgers to the state. He later dropped the application.[26]

Prior on May 22, 2018, Wahlburgers opened a location in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, the first of 26 restaurants planned as part of a franchising deal with grocery chain Hy-Vee that will also bring Wahlburgers entrées and drinks to some Hy-Vee in-store restaurants.[27][28] On September 25, 2018, Wahlburgers opened in Olathe, Kansas to a large crowd with a surprise visit from Paul Wahlberg.[29]

In April 2018, Wahlburgers agreed to market their fresh Angus brisket, chuck, and short rib blend hamburger patties in supermarkets. ARKK Food will distribute the burgers in more than 1,300 stores, including Shaw's.[30] In June 2018, the company announced CEO Rick Vanzura would be leaving the chain.[31] He was succeeded by John Fuller who was previously CEO at Johnny Rockets and the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.[10][32]

In May 2019, Wahlburgers opened a restaurant in Covent Garden, London, its first location in the United Kingdom.[33] The company was planning to open 15 restaurants over five years in London and other cities.[34] In mid-2020, the company permanently closed the Covent Garden restaurant, citing the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the store's location as the reasons for the closure.[35] In January 2020, the first Wahlburgers in Germany opened at Ramstein Air Base.[36]

Planned locations

Wahlburgers announced a location on historic Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee,[37] but problems with utilities and required approvals of requested changes by the historical commission have delayed the more than half million dollar project for more than a year.[38] As of March 2019, the location is not on Wahlburgers' website.[39] Intentions for a second Tennessee location in Nashville was announced in September 2017 by joint owners singer Chris Kirkpatrick and Pranzo but no leases have been signed nor is the city listed on the Wahlburgers website.[40][41][42] In January 2019, it was announced that it will open the first Wahlburgers restaurant franchise in Wisconsin. The franchise will be located at The Corners of Brookfield on Bluemound Road in Brookfield, Wisconsin.[43] The location was officially opened in October 2019 to large crowds. In June 2018, the city of St. Charles, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago, approved a Wahlburgers franchise. The groundbreaking for the St. Charles location happened in March 2019, with Donnie Wahlburg in attendance.[44] Construction on the location officially began in August 2019.[45] In July 2018, Bass Pro Shops spokesman Jack Wlezien confirmed that the Springfield-based outdoor retailer is "planning a partnership with Wahlburgers and are exploring potential locations at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's stores."[46] In August 2018, Mark Wahlberg talked about bringing Wahlburgers to Columbus, Ohio.[47] On August 23, 2018, it was announced that Wahlburgers will open up a location in Springfield, MA at the MGM Springfield.[48] It is expected to open in summer 2020.[49] In Summer 2019, it was announced that a Wahlburgers would be opening in Carmel, a suburb of Indianapolis. As of January 2021, this location has not opened yet.[50]

In December 2020, Wahlburgers signed a partnership deal with United Cinemas to open Wahlburgers locations in Australia and New Zealand. The chain plans to open both restaurant within United cinemas and stand-alone restaurants.[51][52]

References
  1. "Wahlberg brings his burgers to WA". PerthNow. January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  2. Wida, Erica Chayes (April 21, 2018). "Wahlberg family reunites in Boston to celebrate new Wahlburgers' food truck". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  3. "Tom Wahl's signs licensing agreement with Wahlberg brothers", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, August 25, 2011, ISSN 1088-5153, retrieved August 26, 2011, Tom Wahl's, which has federal trademark rights to the Wahlburger name, has signed a licensing agreement with the restaurant group that includes pop stars and actors Donnie and Mark Wahlberg and their chef-restaurateur brother, Paul. The agreement allows the Wahlbergs to name their soon-to-open burger eatery in Hingham, Mass., Wahlburgers Restaurant.
  4. "Step by Step: Chef, famous bros get fired up over Wahlburgers", Boston Herald, Boston, Massachusetts, August 24, 2011, ISSN 0738-5854, archived from the original on September 17, 2011, retrieved August 29, 2011, St. Croix said the restaurant’s ownership approached Tom Wahl’s, a chain of burger joints based in Rochester, N.Y., a few months ago after they discovered it sold a product called the "Wahlburger."
  5. Grow, Kory (November 12, 2013). "Mark and Donnie Wahlberg to Serve Up 'Wahlburgers' on TV". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  6. Kuperinsky, Amy (January 23, 2014). "Well done: 'Wahlburgers' gives a prime look at the brothers Wahlberg". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  7. "Wahlburgers - Official Site for the Boston Burger Restaurant » Want a burger restaurant in Boston? Come in to Wahlburgers for gourmet burgers, drinks and fun!". Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  8. "A&E Network Orders 18 More Episodes of 'Wahlburgers'". TV By the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  9. "Emmy Awards 2014: the nominations in full". Daily Telegraph. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  10. Chesto, Jon (May 27, 2020). "New Wahlburgers CEO looks to expand fast-casual concept - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  11. "Grand Opening, Eh?". Wahlburgers. March 4, 2015.
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  14. "Wahlburgers heading to Broadway at the Beach's Celebrity Square". The Sun News. May 11, 2016.
  15. The News & Observer, Wahlburgers is open for business. Here's our peek inside. by Drew Jackson, May 4, 2018, Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  16. Daniels, Steve (December 28, 2018). "Downtown Raleigh Wahlburgers closes after seven months". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  17. weekend, joel brown, abc11 anchors, wtvd anchors, abc11 reporters, wtvd reporters, wtvd talent, raleigh news, durham news, fayetteville news, abc11 (December 29, 2018). "Raleigh Wahlburgers workers speak out about sudden shutdown". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
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  21. Herndon, Dave (December 15, 2017). "Mark Wahlberg announces new business deals with Meijer during visit to Royal Oak, Taylor". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  22. Tuder, Stefanie (November 5, 2018). "UES Wahlburgers Closes Permanently Following Health Department Shutter". Eater NY.
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  24. McShane, Julianne (November 30, 2018). "It's déjà jus! Coney Island Wahlburgers closing for winter for second-straight year". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  25. Elliott, Farley (January 4, 2018). "Two Wahlburgers Franchises Opened in Los Angeles and Almost No One Noticed". Eater LA. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  26. Elliott, Farley (September 13, 2016). "Mark Wahlberg Now 'Regrets' Pardon Request for Teenage Assault Conviction". The Wrap. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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  28. John Ewoldt (May 21, 2018). "Hy-Vee CEO talks expansion of Wahlburgers and grocery stores". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
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  31. Chesto, Jon (June 11, 2018). "Wahlburgers CEO stepping down after leading group for more than six years". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  32. "The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf announces new President and CEO, John Fuller". Comunicaffe International. September 6, 2015. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  33. Brennan, Ailis; Sandu, Costel (May 5, 2019). "Mark Wahlberg is coming to London to open his Wahlburgers restaurant". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
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  37. "Wahlburgers opening Beale Street location". News Channel 3. June 19, 2017.
  38. Glover, Ryan (November 9, 2017). "Wahlburgers is one step closer to opening its Memphis location on Beale Street". WHBQ. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  39. "Wahlburgers Locations Find the Closest to You". wahlburgers.com.
  40. "*NSync member looks to bring Mark Wahlberg's family chain Wahlburgers to Nashville". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  41. "Wahlburgers, we hardly knew ye. Downtown Raleigh restaurant closes after less than a year". newsobserver. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  42. "Wahlburgers is open for business. Here's our peek inside". newsobserver. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  43. Fredrich, Lori. "First Wahlburgers in Wisconsin to open at The Corners of Brookfield". On Milwaukee. On Milwaukee. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  44. report, Daily Herald staff (March 21, 2019). "Donnie Wahlberg to attend Wahlburgers groundbreaking Friday in St. Charles". Daily Herald. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  45. "Work Underway On Wahlburgers In St. Charles". St. Charles, IL Patch. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  46. Zhu, Alissa. "Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas could be getting Wahlburgers restaurants". Springfield News-Leader.
  47. Malone, J. D. "Mark Wahlberg pays visit to his Columbus car dealership". The Daily Jeffersonian.
  48. Kelly, Ray (August 23, 2018). "Mark Wahlberg, brothers to open Wahlburgers at MGM Springfield". masslive.
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Further reading
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