News

Wahlburgers expanding to Philly and beyond

April 16, 2014

Wahlburgers, a fast casual burger restaurant founded by brothers Mark, Donnie, and Paul Wahlberg and subject of a new A&E Network original series, "Wahlburgers," have announced expansion plans in North America, including new developments in Boston, Toronto and Philadelphia.

Wahlburgers has signed a franchise agreement with Hingham Associates LLC that will bring five Wahlburgers to the metropolitan Philadelphia area over the next several years. The franchise group is actively looking at sites and is targeting a late 2014 to early 2015 opening for its first restaurant, according to a company press release.

In addition, Wahlburgers is finalizing leases for two new restaurants in the metro and suburban Boston area. These include sites within Samuels and Associates' Fenway neighborhood development in Boston and in WS Development's Market Street Center in Lynnfield. Both restaurants are planned to be more than 4,200 square feet with sizable outdoor patios and offer all the signature characteristics of the original Hingham location, including full-serve and self-serve dining options, take-out and a full bar. These two locations were selected after reviewing more than 40 options over the last 18 months and are consistent with the company's desire to locate Wahlburgers in premier, high traffic locations, according to the release.

"We have spent the last two years carefully developing a successful and repeatable restaurant with our Hingham location, and we are now ready to begin expanding the business and the brand," said Rick Vanzura, CEO of Wahlburgers. "We will continue to look for partners and multi-unit operators that can help us expand into new markets in a way that upholds the strength and standards of the Wahlberg brand."

The company's partners in Toronto have announced a planned grand opening for the first Toronto restaurant in Summer 2014. The Toronto restaurant will be located at 46 Blue Jay Way in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district.

The company continues to be the focus of A&E Network's original series "Wahlburgers." Filming on 18 additional episodes for its second season is slated to begin this spring.

"These are the next steps in building Wahlburgers into a great and enduring worldwide brand. We have built the restaurant and partnerships with quality and care, and my brothers and I look forward to continuing the journey," said Mark Wahlberg.

With plans for growth, Wahlburgers is looking for interested and qualified franchisees and business partners with significant, multi-unit restaurant experience to bring restaurants to cities all over North America.