What started as one south shore, Massachusetts burger joint has now turned into a very popular chain. Mark Wahlberg is obviously most well-known for his entertainment career, but his restaurant business is also doing quite well. In fact, there are over 90 Wahlburgers locations now in the world.
Mark’s older brother, Paul, is a renowned chef. Along with brother Donnie Wahlberg of New Kids on The Block, the trio opened their first “Walhburgers” restaurant in 2011. This restaurant, sporting an easily recognizable green logo, is in Hingham, Massachusetts in the Shipyard development. It sits along the harbor right across the street for Paul’s first endeavor in the area, a high-end Italian eatery called Alma Nova (named after his mother Alma).
Where It all Began… Hingham
The first official Wahlburger was met with much anticipation. With the brothers in town for the opening, along with many prominent Boston sports stars, like David Ortiz, the Hingham location was quite busy right away. Its location is essentially at the dock of the Boston commuter ferry so it also became a tourist attraction as it was easy to get to for those in the city.
The interior of the first Wahlburgers is a style now replicated across many others. The walls are plastered with billboard-style images of Mark’s movies, Donnie’s performances, and the A&E show promo shots.
Menu
A traditional burger is the mainstay of the menu. However, there is no shortage of creative options to add to it. Mark, Paul, and Donnie note their favorites on the menu. In addition, there are numerous options of fries, tots, and pickles to go along with it. If burgers are not your thing, you can choose between chicken sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, mac and cheese or chili. Finally, all of this can be washed down with a shake.
Reality Show
In 2014, the A&E network created a reality show about Wahlburgers. It aired for ten seasons. Though the show centered around a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant and its development, Paul, Donnie, and Mark also made appearances on the program. The show brought you inside the passionate conversations about the restaurant’s growth. Furthermore, it showcased Alma, the family’s breakout star.
Later that year, the franchise model began with Walhbergers Toronto opening. One by one, new Walhbergers locations were opening across the country. Next, in 2018, the Wahlberg’s partnered with Hy-Vee, which would open over 25 locations in the Midwest.
Going Global
The burger doesn’t stop there. In addition to Canada, there are now four Wahlburgers in Australia, and one in Auckland, New Zealand in addition to two in Toronto. Other notable spots include within the Walhlberg’s hometown of Dorchester, MA, around the corner from Fenway Park, and a spot on Hollywood Boulevard.
Bring It Home?
Wahlburgers at Home offers selections of their premium meats, sauces and pickles available at grocery stores across the country. There’s a rolling Walhburgers food truck. Lastly, there are surprise new items like the Government Cheese Fondue set, and specialties announced numerous times per year. Paul often explains the inspiration behind the items, and some of them are available to order. For example, the Chorizo Jam Burger.
Wahlburgers is still growing. The newest locations include recent openings in Las Vegas, NV and Quincy, IL. To find the Wahlburgers nearest you, visit: Wahlburgers.com
