WAHLBURGERS

Our reporter ordered the same lunch from BurgerFi and Mark Wahlberg-owned Wahlburgers. She liked both but said the pricier meal was worth a splurge.

Our reporter thought the food was impressive, but the decor felt gimmicky and leaned heavily on the fame of both Mark and Donnie Wahlberg.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A celebrity-owned restaurant is scheduled to open in downtown Grand Rapids on Monday, Nov. 1. Wahlburgers, a fast-casual burger national chain, was founded by chef Paul Wahlberg and two of his brothers, actors Mark and Donnie.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — At the new Wahlburgers in downtown Grand Rapids, customers will find movie posters, pictures and other memorabilia paying tribute the fast-casual burger chain’s founding family. The fast-casual burger chain was founded by chef Paul Wahlberg and two of his brothers, Mark and Donnie, both of whom are famous actors. The Grand Rapids location, located on the first floor of the Marriott Residence Inn at 10 Ionia Ave. NW, is scheduled to open Nov. 1. Cory Knight, the restaurant’s general manager, said Wahlburgers’ focus is on “food, family, fun,” and that coming to Grand Rapids was a “no brainer.”“It’s a very great burger place,” he said. It will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

“How much mac-and-cheese we ate as kids,” says Wahlburgers executive chef Paul Wahlberg, who co-owns the restaurant chain with two of his brothers, the actors/musicians Donnie Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg. Founded in Massachusetts, where the Wahlberg family is from, as of late 2020 Wahlburgers has around 50 restaurants. The best part of it was being with my family, and being able to spend time, you know, especially with my mom and Mark and Donnie. Like you see from a distance what it is they (Mark and Donnie as entertainers) do. Did Donnie and Mark get into any music through what you were listening to?

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Wahlburgers, a fast-casual burger chain, will open its first West Michigan restaurant on Nov. 1 on the first floor of the Marriott Residence Inn at 10 Ionia Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. The new Wahlburgers locations is operated by WB Sub Holding, LLC, a franchisee of Wahlburgers, according to a news release. “We’re thrilled to be able to bring the Wahlburgers experience to West Michigan,” Paul Wahlberg said in a statement. Whalburgers announced in March it was coming to the Grand Rapids location. Read more:Backstage passes, signed memorabilia highlight Van Andel Arena donation to Grand Rapids Public MuseumGrand Rapids planning community meet-and-greet with Cure Violence teamAmazon to hire 1,500 seasonal employees in Michigan

Wahlburgers plans to grow its fast-casual burger chain through a partnership with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. It allows Wahlburgers to expand “throughout Indian Country in the United States and Canada,” a news release said. The Little River Band operates a casino in Manistee and wants to build another in Muskegon County. Wahlburgers will join three restaurants and one bar currently at the Little River Casino Resort. Details about specific franchise locations with the Little River Band are not available yet.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A second ground-floor restaurant is coming to the new Marriott Residence Inn in downtown Grand Rapids this fall. Social Misfits is a restaurant concept created by Livingston County resident Spencer Raymond that will center around waffles, coffee and cocktails. “Waffles evoke feelings of comfort, home, and let’s be honest; they’re delicious any time of day,” Spencer said. After pitching his Social Misfits concept, which has a heavy coffee component, the deal was inked. Social Misfits will serve brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktails daily, according to a news release.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Wahlburgers, a fast-casual burger chain, is expected to open its first West Michigan restaurant this summer on the first floor of the recently completed 13-story Marriott Residence Inn at 10 Ionia Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids. Wahlburgers is jointly owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, actors Mark and Donnie. “We are thrilled to be joining this wonderful community and look forward to opening the doors in Grand Rapids starting later this summer,” Jim Oboyski, vice president of operations at Wahlburgers, said in a statement. The 147-room hotel, which opened in February, is located next to Van Andel Arena, 20 Monroe Live and other downtown destinations and amenities. The chain closed locations in Flint Township and Taylor, a community in Wayne County, last year, according to news reports.

FLINT TWP, MI — A Flint Township burger joint owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, actors Mark and Donnie, is set to close its doors for good on Dec. 24. Wahlburgers, located at Outdoor Village at Genesee Valley Center, 4372 Miller Road, announced the closure through its Facebook page on Wednesday, Dec. 9. To all of our loyal Wahlburgers supporters: The Wahlburgers location at Genesee Valley Center is unfortunately preparing... Posted by Wahlburgers on Wednesday, December 9, 2020General Manager Rob Gill said the business is actively searching for a new location within Genesee County that will better fit its customers. Gill said the COVID-19 pandemic was a factor that contributed to closing of the Flint Township location. In June 2019, more than 200 people lined up outside the business in Flint Township to get a chance to taste the menu offerings.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A general manager at the Royal Oak Wahlburgers got an unexpected call this week. Kelly Stafford contacted the eatery near Beaumont Hospital to say that she and husband Matthew Stafford are paying for first repsonders’ meals. The couple said they will cover up to $5,000 in orders made by first responders, including doctors, nurses, police officers and firefighters, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The giveaway will begin on Thursday, March 26 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Royal Oak Wahlburgers restaurant only. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily.

DETROIT - Wahlburgers will open the doors to their newest Michigan location on Thursday. The new spot, their fourth in Michigan, will be in Royal Oak. The 5,100 sq ft. restaurant is located at the corner of Woodward Avenue and 13 Mile Road. "We have fallen in love with Michigan and its people as they have been so welcoming to our family. We are truly looking forward to bringing our fourth location to the state as we open our doors in Royal Oak" said Mark Wahlberg.