Hy-Vee to Open its 1st Wahlburgers at Mall of America

Midwestern grocery chain Hy-Vee Inc. will open its first Wahlburgers restaurant franchise at the Mall of America near Minneapolis this summer.

The 5,500-square-foot Wahlburgers will be located on Level 2 North at Mall of America, in the Twin Cities suburb of Bloomington.

“Hy-Vee is excited to launch the first of many new restaurants in partnership with Wahlburgers, and to bring a new dining experience to the Twin Cities,” said Randy Edeker, chairman of the board, CEO and president of Hy-Vee. “Families will enjoy great food in a fun atmosphere, served with the excellent customer service and hospitality that Hy-Vee and Wahlburgers are known for.”

This past summer, Hy-Vee revealed that it was entering into strategic partnerships with Wahlburgers and fitness chain OrangeTheory Fitness as part of the grocer’s efforts to diversify its services to better meet the needs of its diverse consumer base.

Wahlburgers features signature burgers, home-style sides, house-made condiments, fish, chicken and vegetarian options, and a full bar offering specialty drinks such as adult frappes and floats.

Chef Paul Wahlberg created the franchise with two of his brothers, actors Mark and Donnie, to please all tastes through both lighter and heartier menu offerings, served up in casual, music-filled atmosphere.

“Families will have a great time, and hopefully share a lot of laughs and love when they enjoy my family’s delicious recipes at our new Wahlburgers in one of the top tourist spots in America,” Paul Wahlberg said. “Along with Hy-Vee, my family is committed to offering a unique culinary experience that goes beyond the basic burger, with customer service that will make you feel like family.”

Wahlburgers currently operates 17 locations in nine states and Canada. In August, Hy-Vee said that it plans to build, own and operate 26 Wahlburgers restaurants. Plans for another Wahlburgers franchise location, scheduled to open in 2018, are underway in Hy-Vee's hometown of West Des Moines, Iowa.

“We are thrilled to be the first Wahlburgers location in Minnesota so our guests visiting from all over the world will have the opportunity to witness the top-notch dining experience the Wahlbergs have created,” said Carrie Charleston, VP of leasing for Mall of America.

In addition to the location at Mall of America, Hy-Vee will soon offer Wahlburgers-branded menu items in its full-service Market Grille restaurants at Hy-Vee supermarkets across the grocer's eight-state region. Hy-Vee is also a sponsor of the “Wahlburgers” reality TV series on the A&E network, which chronicles the brothers and the restaurant franchise.

Hy-Vee operates nearly 250 retail stores across eight Midwestern states, with sales of $10 billion annually.

Wahlburgers debuted in October 2011 in Hingham, Mass.

Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, boasting more than 520 retail stores and restaurants, as well as entertainment including an indoor family theme park featuring 27 rides and the Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium.