Major celebrity burger chain quietly shuts multiple Australian venues
The future of Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg’s burger chain Wahlburgers is in doubt, with four of its six Australian locations closing their doors including its marquee location at Circular Quay in Sydney. This comes after the 2023 collapse of F45, the Australian-born gym chain in which the actor was an early investor
A notice at the Wahlburgers Circular Quay location reads: “After four remarkable years, Wahlburgers will officially close its doors from Monday, July 20th. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created here, and [are] deeply grateful for the loyalty and support of our wonderful guests and neighbours.”
Multiple Wahlburgers locations have quietly closed in Australia. Facebook/Supplied
The Circular Quay restaurant opened to much fanfare in February 2022 as part of a $50 million partnership with United Cinemas.
Although COVID travel restrictions meant Mark Wahlberg’s plan to attend the opening were cancelled, the actor promoted the opening via video link and on social media.
Additional locations soon followed in Manly, Byron Bay, and Warriewood. These have also now closed.
The future of Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg’s burger chain Wahlburgers is in doubt. Instagram/@wahlburgers
Sam Mustaca, CEO of United Cinemas Australia & New Zealand, has told nine.com.au the closures are a result of a “restructuring of the business”. He confirmed the Bringelly and Surfers Paradise locations will remain open.
“We are very happy with these locations and thank all the patrons and clients that repeat visitations and looking forward to service the community for years to come,” he said.
Wahlburgers at Manly, Byron, and Warriewood have also closed. Supplied
As for the future of Wahlburgers in Australia, Mustaca said they remain in partnership and are “currently on the hunt” for new Australian locations.
When the venture was first launched, there were plans to roll out more than 20 additional locations across Australia and New Zealand. Planned locations at Craigieburn in Melbourne and Rockingham in Perth never came to fruition.
Wahlburgers was founded in 2011 by Mark Wahlberg and his brothers Donnie and Paul. The famous brothers opened 51 locations across the US and Canada ahead of their Australian launch.
Mark Wahlberg got his start as a singer with the hit single Good Vibration before forging a successful acting career in Hollywood. Brother Donnie is best known as a member of the music group New Kids On The Block, but he too is a successful actor. Brother Paul is a chef and the inspiration behind the burger chain.
“This all started with my brother Chef Paul who has spent his entire career in the kitchen,” Mark Wahlberg explained in a statement.
“For the last 10 years he’s dedicated himself to bringing guests an exceptional experience, no matter where in the world they are visiting Wahlburgers.”
The future of Wahlburgers in Australia is now in doubt. Instagram/@wahlburgers
The chain was the subject of the television series Wahlburgers, which debuted on A&E in 2014 and aired for 10 seasons over five years.
Wahlburgers partnered with several high-profile corporate entities, franchisees, and groups across the US, Canada, and Australia, to expand its restaurant and retail footprint.
In the US the burger chain partnered with multiple companies including Hy-Vee, SSP America, and Delaware North, with these partnerships resulting in Wahlburgers locations opening in shopping centres and airport terminals across the country.
Wahlberg said in a statement ahead of the opening of its first Australian partnership he was “excited” to be partnering with United Cinemas in Australia.
“I love all the things we have in common, especially family, film, restaurant experience and music,” the actor said.
“I’m really looking forward to our first opening and visiting with my brothers and Wahlburgers co-founders, Chef Paul Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg.”
Wahlburgers serves American-style burgers, onion rings, and pickles. Instagram/@wahlburgers
At its peak there were as many as 109 Wahlburgers locations around the world including in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. In 2024 multiple Wahlburgers locations closed, reducing the chain to approximately 32 locations globally.
Several Wahlburger food trucks that operate in partnership with Home Depot Partnership in the US are reportedly still in business, and the burger chain’s signature sauce Wahl Sauce is sold in the US.
