Wahlburgers to Open 100 to 150 New Restaurants Nationwide

People Magazine reports that Wahlburgers is expected to open at least 100 more locations in the US and even more internationally. Here is the article:

Wahlburgers Will Open 100 to 150 New Restaurants Nationwide

Wahlburgers, the burger chain started by brothers Donnie, Mark and chef Paul Wahlberg is expanding in a big way.

A representative for the Massachusetts-based burger eatery confirmed to PEOPLE that the chain will add 100 to 150 more restaurants over the next five years.

The company—which currently has five locations in Massachusetts, New York and Toronto—has plans to open restaurants in Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Orlando, Manhattan and Washington D.C. in the near future. And according to Business Insider, they intend on expanding to 300 locations overseas.

The success of Wahlburgers is largely due to the Emmy-nominated reality show based on the restaurant, says CEO Rick Vanzura.

“It has certainly been a huge promotional vehicle,” he told Business Insider. “We saw an immediate increase in sales with the show. And Mark and Donnie understand the importance of the show to the brand so they have done everything they can to promote the show.”

But of course that also means chef Paul’s food—like their signature burger with “wahl sauce”—has to be up to par to compete with chains like Shake Shack and Five Guys.

“We’re just fortunate that people are interested in it,” he said last year. “The family name has some celebrity status to it. But we still have to live up to that.”