Wahlburgers

Wahlburgers is a casual dining burger restaurant and bar. It is owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, actors Donnie Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg. The chain is the subject of the television series Wahlburgers, which debuted on A&E on January 22, 2014, and aired for 10 seasons.[1]

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
Privately held company
IndustryFood service
FoundedHingham, Massachusetts, 2011 (2011)
Founder
Headquarters
Boston 
Area served
31 - North America
2 - UK
2 - Canada
1 - Germany
ProductsHamburgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, cocktails, desserts and merchandise
ServicesRestaurant, bar and take-out
Website

Restaurant

Origins

In 2011, an equity group that includes Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, and Paul Wahlberg licensed the name "Wahlburger" from Tom Wahl's for use in their own restaurant.[2][3] 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).[4][5]

History

The first Wahlburgers opened in Hingham, Massachusetts,[6] near Alma Nove, the pre-existing restaurant operated by Paul Wahlberg. A second location opened in Toronto, Ontario[7][8] 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.[9] 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.[10] The Raleigh location opened in May 2018[11] and closed seven months later with the sheriff padlocking the doors[12] and referring inquiries to the landlord with reports of bounced paychecks.[13] Work on a planned location in south Charlotte had stopped as of early December 2018 according to media reports.[14] In December 2017, Wahlburgers and supermarket chain Meijer announced a partnership to bring Wahlburgers restaurants to Meijer stores in Michigan and Ohio.[15] 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.[16] Another franchise location planned for Times Square never opened after two years of renting a location,[17] and a third location at Coney Island has operated only seasonally in 2017 and 2018, staying open only for the busiest summer season.[18]In December 2017 two Wahlburgers restaurants opened in Los Angeles. [19] Prior to the opening, part owner Mark Wahlberg applied to have hate 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 and the hate crimes remain on his record. [20] Wahlburgers currently operates 29 locations in 19 states and Canada.[21] 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 entrees and drinks to some Hy-Vee in-store restaurants.[22][23] On September 25, 2018, Wahlburgers opened in Olathe, Kansas to a large crowd with a surprise visit from its celebrity chef.[24] In June 2018, the company announced CEO Rick Vanzura would be leaving the chain to run another restaurant chain.[25]

Planned locations

Wahlburgers announced a location on historic Beale Street in Memphis, TN.[26] 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.[27] As of March 2019 the location is not on Wahlburgers' website.[28] 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 .[29][30][31] 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.[21] The location was officially opened 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.[32] Construction on the location officially began in August 2019.[33] 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."[34] In August 2018, Mark Wahlberg talked about bringing Wahlburgers to Columbus, Ohio. “We’re looking for locations today," he said. "Yeah, we’ll be coming to Columbus.”[35] On August 23, 2018, it was announced that Wahlburgers will open up a location in Springfield, MA at the MGM Springfield.[36] It is expected to open in early 2020.[37]

Retail products

In April 2018, the Wahlberg brothers 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 markets, including Shaw's and Star Market.[38]

TV series
Main article: Wahlburgers (TV series)
Further information: List of Wahlburgers episodes

Because of the success of the restaurant, a reality television series was launched on A&E ordered an initial order of 18 episodes of Wahlburgers with a cast including Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg and many others. In 2014, Wahlburgers received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.[39]

gollark: I have reasons, "kite".
gollark: For now, anyway.
gollark: Yes, that would probably work.
gollark: I'm sure you'd like to think so.
gollark: It is too late, orbital mind control lasers *are* active.

See also

References
  1. "A&E Network Orders 18 More Episodes of 'Wahlburgers'". TV By the Numbers. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  2. "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.
  3. "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."
  4. Grow, Kory (November 12, 2013). "Mark and Donnie Wahlberg to Serve Up 'Wahlburgers' on TV". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  5. Kuperinsky, Amy (January 23, 2014). "Well done: 'Wahlburgers' gives a prime look at the brothers Wahlberg". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  6. "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.
  7. "Grand Opening, Eh?". Wahlburgers. March 4, 2015.
  8. "Wahlburgers Toronto Canada | Burger Restaurant and Sports Bar by Paul Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg". wahlburgers.ca.
  9. Chesto, John (December 4, 2014). "Wahlburgers cooks up ambitious expansion plan".
  10. "Wahlburgers heading to Broadway at the Beach's Celebrity Square". The Sun News. May 11, 2016.
  11. The News & Observer, Wahlburgers is open for business. Here's our peek inside. by Drew Jackson, May 4, 2018, Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  12. Daniels, Steve (December 28, 2018). "Downtown Raleigh Wahlburgers closes after seven months". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  13. 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.
  14. "Have plans to bring Wahlburgers to south Charlotte hit a snag?". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  15. 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.
  16. Tuder, Stefanie (November 5, 2018). "UES Wahlburgers Closes Permanently Following Health Department Shutter". Eater NY.
  17. Mohr, Ian (September 23, 2017). "Wahlberg family burger chain franchises facing financial troubles".
  18. 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.
  19. Elliott, Farley (January 4, 2018). "Two Wahlburgers Franchises Opened in Los Angeles and Almost No One Noticed". Eater LA. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  20. Elliott, Farley (September 13, 2016). "Mark Wahlberg Now 'Regrets' Pardon Request for Teenage Assault Conviction". The Wrap. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  21. Fredrich, Lori. "First Wahlburgers in Wisconsin to open at The Corners of Brookfield". On Milwaukee. On Milwaukee. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  22. "Mark and Donnie Wahlberg to roll out Wahlburgers with Mall of America appearance". twincities.com. May 9, 2018.
  23. John Ewoldt (May 21, 2018). "Hy-Vee CEO talks expansion of Wahlburgers and grocery stores". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  24. "Wahlburgers opens in Olathe to big crowd with surprise visit from its celebrity chef". September 25, 2018.
  25. 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.
  26. "Wahlburgers opening Beale Street location". News Channel 3. June 19, 2017.
  27. Glover, Ryan (November 9, 2017). "Wahlburgers is one step closer to opening its Memphis location on Beale Street". WHBQ. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  28. "Wahlburgers Locations Find the Closest to You". wahlburgers.com.
  29. "*NSync member looks to bring Mark Wahlberg's family chain Wahlburgers to Nashville". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  30. "Wahlburgers, we hardly knew ye. Downtown Raleigh restaurant closes after less than a year". newsobserver. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  31. "Wahlburgers is open for business. Here's our peek inside". newsobserver. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  32. report, Daily Herald staff (March 21, 2019). "Donnie Wahlberg to attend Wahlburgers groundbreaking Friday in St. Charles". Daily Herald. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  33. "Work Underway On Wahlburgers In St. Charles". St. Charles, IL Patch. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  34. Zhu, Alissa. "Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas could be getting Wahlburgers restaurants". Springfield News-Leader.
  35. Malone, J. D. "Mark Wahlberg pays visit to his Columbus car dealership". The Daily Jeffersonian.
  36. Kelly, Ray (August 23, 2018). "Mark Wahlberg, brothers to open Wahlburgers at MGM Springfield". masslive.
  37. Kinney, Jim (March 19, 2019). "MGM Springfield says Wahlburgers will be ready in late 2019, early 2020". masslive.
  38. Chesto, Jon (April 24, 2018). "Wahlburgers looks to expand into retail business". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  39. "Emmy Awards 2014: the nominations in full". Daily Telegraph. July 10, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.

Further reading

Restaurants

TV series

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