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Wahlburgers closes Fenway location as Massachusetts footprint shrinks

Wahlburgers closes Fenway location as Massachusetts footprint shrinks

Money Moves Boston, MA local

Fenway shut on Oct. 31, a month after the original Hingham restaurant closed, leaving four Massachusetts locations — and Hy-Vee is closing 79 in-store counters.

November 3rd, 2026: Hy-Vee to close 79 in-store Wahlburgers

Overview

Updated Nov 3

Wahlburgers closed its Fenway restaurant at 132 Brookline Ave. on Oct. 31, ending an 11-year run there. The shutdown came a month after the original Hingham location closed, leaving four Massachusetts sites: two at Logan Airport, one in Plainville and one in Springfield.

The chain now faces a bigger cut. Hy-Vee said it will close the 79 Wahlburgers counters inside its grocery stores and replace them with its own Market Grill concept, about two-thirds of the brand's locations. Wahlburgers says it is still looking for a new Boston-area home and plans 2027 openings at the Athletics' future Las Vegas stadium, The Orleans Hotel & Casino, Bass Pro Shops in California and Colorado, more Home Depot stores and Puerto Rico.

Why it matters

The closures test whether a celebrity-backed burger chain can keep a home-state presence after its original restaurant and Fenway site shut.

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Key Indicators

4
Wahlburgers locations remaining in Massachusetts
After the Fenway closure, four sites remain: two at Logan Airport, plus Plainville and Springfield.
79
In-store Wahlburgers counters Hy-Vee will close
The grocery chain is ending the partnership and replacing them with its own Market Grill concept. The outlets were about two-thirds of Wahlburgers' locations but a small share of sales.
11
Years the Fenway location operated
The restaurant opened in 2011 and closed Oct. 31, 2026, as its lease ended.

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People Involved

Paul Wahlberg
Paul Wahlberg
Chef and co-founder of Wahlburgers
Co-founder and chef

Organizations Involved

Wahlburgers
Wahlburgers
Restaurant chain
Closing Massachusetts locations and losing 79 Hy-Vee in-store counters; four Massachusetts restaurants remain

Burger restaurant chain founded by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers Mark and Donnie.

Timeline

September 2026 November 2026

4 events Latest: November 3rd, 2026 · 1 week ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Hy-Vee to close 79 in-store Wahlburgers

    Latest Closure

    The grocery chain said it is ending its Wahlburgers partnership and will replace the in-store restaurants with its own Market Grill concept. The outlets were about two-thirds of Wahlburgers' unit count but a small share of sales.

  2. Fenway Wahlburgers closes

    Closure

    The Boston restaurant at 132 Brookline Ave. shut after 11 years as its lease ended, leaving four Massachusetts locations. The company said it is looking for a new Boston-area site.

  3. Wahlburgers outlines 2027 expansion

    Expansion

    In the post announcing the Fenway closure, the chain said it added 10 outlets in 2026 and plans 2027 openings at the Athletics' future Las Vegas stadium, The Orleans Hotel & Casino, Bass Pro Shops in California and Colorado, more Home Depot locations and Puerto Rico.

  4. Original Hingham Wahlburgers closes

    Closure

    The Hingham Shipyard restaurant, the chain's first, shut as its lease ended after nearly 15 years.

Scenarios

1

Wahlburgers exits Massachusetts entirely

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Boston.com reporting on the Massachusetts closures

If the remaining sites close as leases end or traffic falls, the chain could end up with no Massachusetts restaurants. The recent pace makes a full exit possible, though the chain has not announced plans to leave the state.

2

Wahlburgers opens a new Boston-area restaurant

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Wahlburgers' statement after the Hingham closure

The company said it was actively looking for a new home in the Boston area after the Hingham lease ended. A signed lease and opening would replace some of the lost local footprint.

3

Four remaining Massachusetts locations stay open through 2027

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Boston.com count of remaining locations

The four sites left after the Fenway closure are two at Logan Airport, Plainville, and Springfield. If no further closures are announced, the chain keeps a smaller but intact Massachusetts presence.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

October 2011

Friendly's bankruptcy (2011)

Friendly's, a Massachusetts-founded restaurant chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed dozens of restaurants.

Then

The bankruptcy let the chain restructure and continue with a smaller footprint.

Now

It showed how a home-state brand can shrink without disappearing.

Why this matters now

Wahlburgers is much smaller, but its Massachusetts closures pose a similar question: whether a local-roots brand can stabilize after contraction.

Sources

(6)
Boston.com NBC Boston WHDH 7News MassLive Hoodline Nation's Restaurant News