Four of Wahlburgers’ six Australian stores have shut, including its flagship Circular Quay site, raising fresh questions about the future of Mark Wahlberg’s burger chain locally.
Mark Wahlberg’s burger chain has been dealt a major blow in Australia, with four of its six local stores shut – including its marquee Sydney restaurant.
The closures come as the business says it’s restructuring, while insisting two venues will stay open and more sites are still being pursued.
The shutdowns include the high-profile Circular Quay venue in Sydney, which opened with significant publicity in February 2022 as part of a $50 million partnership with United Cinemas.
Sites at Manly, Byron Bay and Warriewood have also closed, leaving only Bringelly in NSW and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast still trading.
A notice posted at the Circular Quay restaurant said the venue would shut from Monday, July 20.
MORE NEWS
Future of Portelli’s business empire revealed
Man visits Ikea 14 times to prove bizarre theory
‘I disagree’: Australian council bans non-English signs
Multiple Wahlburgers locations have quietly closed in Australia. Facebook/Supplied
“After four remarkable years, Wahlburgers will officially close its doors from Monday, July 20th,” the notice said.
“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.”
The Australian rollout had once been backed by ambitious expansion plans, with more than 20 additional venues flagged across Australia and New Zealand.
But planned stores at Craigieburn in Melbourne and Rockingham in Perth never materialised.
Sam Mustaca, chief executive of United Cinemas Australia and New Zealand, told nine.com.au that the closures were part of a “restructuring of the business”.
The future of Wahlburgers in Australia is now in doubt. Instagram/@wahlburgers
He said the company remained confident in the two surviving venues.
“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.
Mr Mustaca said the business remained in partnership with Wahlburgers and was “currently on the hunt” for new Australian locations.
The closures are another blow involving a business linked to Wahlberg, after the 2023 collapse of F45, the Australian-born fitness chain in which the Hollywood star was an early investor.
Wahlburgers was founded in 2011 by Mark Wahlberg and his brothers, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg.
Chef Paul Wahlberg, the co-founder of the Wahlburger hamburger restaurant franchise. Picture: Wahlburger
Paul, a chef, inspired the burger chain, while Mark and Donnie helped turn the family business into a global brand.
“This all started with my brother Chef Paul who has spent his entire career in the kitchen,” Mark Wahlberg said in an earlier 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.”
Globally, the chain once had as many as 109 locations spanning the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Only two Wahlburger restaurants now remain open in Australia. Picture: Wahlburger
That footprint has since shrunk sharply.
In 2024, multiple stores closed, reducing the chain to about 32 locations worldwide.
Wahlburgers has also expanded beyond traditional restaurants through partnerships in the US, including outlets in shopping centres and airport terminals, while branded products such as Wahl Sauce remain on sale.