Those who love Wahlburgers may have to find another place to eat. The popular eatery, owned by the famous Wahlberg brothers Mark, Donnie and Paul, will see 79 of its locations close. Restaurant Business Online reports Hy-Vee is closing the locations and replacing them with its own Market Grille concept. As of the end of 2023, Wahlburgers had 109 locations, per the report, many of whom were inside Hy-Vees, which has stores in eight Midwestern states. The closures will leave the chain with 40 locations.
Per the report, Wahlburgers was not happy with the performance of the Hy-Vee-operated locations. CEO Randy Sharpe claims said location only accounts for a small percentage of business. Sharpe notes the chain wants to focus more on its actual restaurants as opposed to the kiosk-based options that were made available. Wahlburgers will, however, take over the Hy-Vee-operated full-service location at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MI.
Videos by PopCulture.com
“We are growing restaurants,” Sharpe said. “We’re not going to be in the grocery business. It’s best that everyone stay in what their skill sets are and move on.” Hy-Vee first began opening Wahlburgers in 2018.
In a press release, Hy-Vee announced in its official statement, “Beginning Feb. 4, all Hy-Vee restaurants will offer a new breakfast menu. A new lunch and dinner menu will roll out throughout the month of February. The new menus will bring back fan favorites, like Hy-Vee Market Grille burgers, BLT and club sandwiches, and pork tenderloin sandwiches, while still offering popular items like wings and wontons.”
Massachusetts-based Wahlburgers grew quickly in the last few years, particularly from 2019 to 2023 thanks to its partnership with Hy-Vee. It plans to open 15 locations this year, bringing them to a total of 65, Sharpe said. It also closed some restaurants last year in Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana and Georgia.
Most Viewed
-
(Photo by Ben Curtis – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) -
US singer Miley Cyrus attends the 97th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 2, 2025. (Photo by Angeka Weiss/AFP via Getty Images) -
A ring of vibrant marigold flowers with glowing candles at the center, set against a dark background. (Credit: Eduardo Monroy Husillos / Getty Images) -
Antique TV set with color bars, on black background. 3D rendering -
NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images)
