Wahlburgers has closed nearly 80 locations this year, dipping to 34 restaurants nationwide.
The burger chain founded by actor Mark Wahlberg and his brothers, Donnie and Paul, simultaneously closed 79 locations earlier this year that were in Hy-Vee grocery stores, Eat This, Not That reported earlier this month, ending an agreement that started in 2017.
Wahlburgers CEO Randy Sharpe told Nation’s Restaurant News that the closures affected food court kiosks at the Iowa-based chain. “It’s not a full-service restaurant, and it wasn’t a significant revenue driver for either side,” Sharpe told the publication.
Here’s what to know.
Where are Hy-Vee stores located?
Hy-Vee operates 302 stores in Iowa and seven states near it, according to the web scraping tool ScrapeHero. Iowa has the most in the U.S. with 151 locations. Other locations include the rest of the Midwest and the Southern region of the country, too.
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Mark Wahlberg owns Chevrolet, Buick and GMC auto dealerships
Wahlburgers isn’t Mark Wahlberg’s only business interest. The former rapper known in the 1990s for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch also owns several auto dealerships in the Buckeye State.
Mark Wahlberg has Chevrolet dealerships in various parts of Ohio, including Columbus, Worthington and Avon, as well as a Buick GMC dealership in Columbus. The dealership websites prominently feature a photo of the Hollywood actor.
But wait, there’s more
Wahlberg launched a Mexican-inspired restaurant, Flecha Cantina, in bustling Las Vegas late last year. He’s also a co-owner and brand ambassador for Flecha Azul Tequila, which he partnered with in 2022.
Wahlberg made his mark in the fashion industry as well, becoming a co-founder and owner of Municipal clothing. The lifestyle brand blends athleisure apparel with streetwear flair and launched in 2020.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Wahlburgers closes 79 locations nationwide in 2025 shake-up
