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. 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.
History
The first Wahlburgers opened in Hingham, Massachusetts, near Alma Nove, the pre-existing restaurant operated by Paul Wahlberg. A second location opened in Toronto, Ontario on November 15, 2014 after a soft launch earlier in the month. On February 18, 2016, an Orlando, Florida, location held its red carpet grand opening. Chef Paul and Mark were in attendance. Wahlburgers announced its first South Carolina location in 2016, at Myrtle Beach'sBroadway at the Beach with three more Carolinas locations planned owned by franchiser Greg Pranzo. The Raleigh location opened in May 2018 and closed seven months later with the sheriff padlocking the doors and referring inquiries to the landlord with reports of bounced paychecks. Work on a planned location in south Charlotte had stopped as of early December 2018 according to media reports. In December 2017, Wahlburgers and supermarket chain Meijer announced a partnership to bring Wahlburgers restaurants to Meijer stores in Michigan and Ohio. 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. Another franchise location planned for Times Square never opened after two years of renting a location, and a third location at Coney Island has operated only seasonally in 2017 and 2018, staying open only for the busiest summer season.In December 2017 two Wahlburgers restaurants opened in Los Angeles. 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. Wahlburgers currently operates 29 locations in 19 states and Canada. 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. On September 25, 2018, Wahlburgers opened in Olathe, Kansas to a large crowd with a surprise visit from its celebrity chef. In June 2018, the company announced CEO Rick Vanzura would be leaving the chain to run another restaurant chain.
Planned locations
Wahlburgers announced a location on historic Beale Street in Memphis, TN. 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. As of March 2019 the location is not on Wahlburgers' website. 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. 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. 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. Construction on the location officially began in August 2019. 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." 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.” On August 23, 2018, it was announced that Wahlburgers will open up a location in Springfield, MA at the MGM Springfield. It is expected to open in early 2020.
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.
