Wahlburgers in Detroit's Greektown closes, leaving just one in Michigan

Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
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Wahlburgers, a chain of burger joints started by famed actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg and their brother, chef Paul Wahlberg, appears to be fading in Michigan.

Metro Detroit's only Wahlburgers appears to be closed. The Wahlburgers in Greektown on Monroe Street is marked as "temporarily closed" according to a Google search, leaving its Grand Rapids location the only one open.

Grand Rapids is the only Wahlburgers Michigan location listed on its website. An employee who answered the phone at the Grand Rapids location confirmed that it was the only location in Michigan. The Grand Rapids location opened in November 2021 at the Marriott Residence Inn.

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The Wahlburgers family-owned burger chain got its start more than a decade ago in Massachusetts by the three brothers.

The burger joint is known, of course, for its selection of burgers and has locations nationwide, according to its website. It was also the subject of the A&E series about the restaurant chain and what goes on behind the scenes that aired from 2014 to 2019.

Actor Mark Wahlberg and his brother chef Paul visited the metro area on Monday for the grand opening of the new Wahlburgers in Royal Oak which benefitted Beaumont’s Children Miracle Network.
Actor Mark Wahlberg and his brother chef Paul visited the metro area on Monday for the grand opening of the new Wahlburgers in Royal Oak which benefitted Beaumont’s Children Miracle Network.

Much hype was made about announcing that the chain was headed to Michigan as well as the opening of the Greektown location.

In mid-August 2016, the restaurant had a splashy debut with VIP red-carpet event and an appearance by actor Mark Wahlberg who at the time was in town at that time filming "Transformers: The Last Knight." A week later, the restaurant opened to the public. It was the first of six planned Wahlburgers locations in Michigan.

Along with its notable burger options, the casual dining Walhburgers menu includes entree salads, sandwiches, sides of tater tots and fries, chili, and mac and cheese. The chain, according to its website has locations nationwide.

In the spring of 2018, a Taylor location made its debut but closed in early 2020. The Taylor location, a franchise owned by Nino Cutraro, was to relocate later that year to a spot on Allen Road in Woodhaven.

A poster with the Wahlberg brothers at the new Wahlburgers in Royal Oak.
A poster with the Wahlberg brothers at the new Wahlburgers in Royal Oak.

More than a year after the Taylor opening, Wahlburgers was the first tenant at Woodward Corners by Beaumont, the shopping center at Woodward Avenue, and 13 Mile in Royal Oak. The Royal Oak opening came with brothers Mark and Paul marking the opening. The brothers also visited children at nearby Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. The Royal Oak location closed last summer. A Flint location, at the Outdoor Village at Genesee Valley Center, closed in December 2020, according to MLive.

Calls to the Greektown location were not answered as well as calls and emails that were sent to Wahlburgers corporate office in Massachusetts.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wahlburgers in Detroit's Greektown closes