There was a time when it was just part of the business for restaurant chains to have locations that don’t perform as well as others, but these days when profit margins can make or break a company, if a chain has restaurants that aren’t doing well, they get closed. It’s something that has been done by Denny’s, Cracker Barrel, Applebee’s, Shake Shack, Boston Market, TGI Fridays, Pizza Hut and Popeyes and many others. Now, it is the reason two-thirds of all locations of one beloved burger chain are abruptly shuttering.
Up until a few days ago, there were 119 Wahlburgers across the country, with 79 of them inside Hy-Vee grocery stores. In 2020, Hy-Vee partnered with Wahlburgers to replace Hy-Vee’s own brand of Market Grille eateries in their supermarkets, however, they have decided to bring the Market Grilles back. In a press release, Hy-Vee stated, “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.”
Wahlburgers CEO Randy Sharpe told Restaurant Business Magazine that his company was not thrilled with low sales at the stores, adding, “We are growing restaurants. 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.”
As for why it happened, a Hy-Vee exec told the Argus Leader, “Hy-Vee designed the new menus to offer a wider variety of choices for families, individuals and breakfast groups at an affordable price. The change is based on feedback from customers wanting more variety in our restaurant offerings.”
Wahlburgers, which is owned by actor Mark Wahlberg and his brothers Paul and Donnie, will now have 40 U.S. locations. You can find the one closest to you on their website.
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