12-07-2025
Beloved Burger Chain Quietly Closed 79 Locations This Year
Burger chains are one of the most popular restaurant chains in America. There are more than 86,000 businesses in the burger restaurants industry in the U.S. according to research conducted by QSR Magazine.
Of course, while places like McDonald's and Burger King are known for their fast food burgers, there are plenty of other establishments that are more in the casual dining area that are also popular for their burgers.
Now, one popular burger chain has been quietly closing locations this year. This chain isn't going away or going bankrupt, though, and the chain's CEO is clarifying what these closings really mean.
Wahlburgers burger chain, owned by Paul, Donnie and Mark Wahlburg, has closed 79 locations this year, according to Eat This, Not That.
But, it's not as bad as it looks. One of the reasons for the closings is the end of a franchise agreement, with Eat This, Not That stating, "Wahlburgers closed down several locations located within Hy-Vee stores, ending a franchising agreement that started in 2017."
CEO Randy Sharpe set the record straight on what was going on with those locations in February. In an article from Nation's Restaurant News, he firmly stated, "It's not 79 restaurants closing. If you saw what was being shuttered, it's a food court kiosk. It's not a full-service restaurant, and it wasn't a significant revenue driver for either side."
"We've learned from the past, and we're focused on quality, not quantity,' he added. "This isn't about closing locations; it's about ensuring that every Wahlburgers represents what we stand for — great food, great service, and great partnerships."
In some good news for Wahlburgers, the restaurant recently updated its menu and added new menu items such as Teriyaki Pineapple Smashburger, WahlStreet Spritz and Strawberry Shortcake Shake.
"At Wahlburgers, we're always pushing flavor forward while staying rooted in what our guests crave," Sharpe said in a statement. "This limited-time lineup was inspired by bold, summer-driven flavors — from tropical pineapple and savory teriyaki to nostalgic sweets like our strawberry shortcake with a classic Twinkie."Beloved Burger Chain Quietly Closed 79 Locations This Year first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 12, 2025
