Wahlburgers Manly: Paul Wahlberg praises local businessman for picking ‘iconic’ beachfront location
The man who founded Wahlburgers — the international burger chain — with his Hollywood star brother is blown away by the beachfront location for a new restaurant.
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Paul Wahlberg, who co-founded the gourmet burger franchise Wahlburgers, with his Hollywood actor brothers Mark and Donnie, was on the northern beaches this week.
Wahlberg, the head chef, was on his first visit to Sydney since signing a multimillion-dollar licensing deal with local business entrepreneur Sam Mustaca to bring the burger chain to Australia.
Mr Mustaca, and his father Roy – famous for their chain of United Cinema movie houses – have the “down under” rights to open Wahlburgers restaurants, which began in the Wahlberg’s hometown of Boston in 2011.
They are preparing to open a Wahlburgers on the Manly beachfront in January and have plans for a “drive-through” outlet at the United Cinemas at Warriewood and a restaurant at Dee Why, further down the track.
The Mustacas have already opened a Wahlburgers next to their cinema at Opera Quays, Circular Quay, as well as Byron Bay and Surfers Paradise.
There are also plans for outlets in Perth and Queenstown in New Zealand.
Paul Wahlberg was in Manly to meet with Mr Mustaca and his team as part of his tour checking out the Australia/New Zealand expansion plans. There are already close to 100 outlets across North America and Europe.
He praised Mr Mustaca for picking the location — the former Manly Greenhouse — on South Steyne.
“Sam had found the location and said it was such an iconic spot, right across from the beach on Manly bay,” Mr Wahlberg said.
“The iconic pines, the whole thing, it’s just a beautiful location.
“So we’re very excited that they're here and happy that he brought it all to fruition.
“I mean, how can you beat this location,” he said as he waved his arms towards the sand.
The Manly Wahlburgers will be on the ground floor of the former Manly Greenhouse, opposite the beach at South Steyne, just south of The Corso. Mr Mustaca bought the three-storey eatery and nightspot in July.
There are plans being drawn up for a high-end restaurant on the first floor and an up-market dance club on the top level, which has a retractable roof, to open later in 2023.
The restaurant will be named “Alma Nove”, after the Wahlberg family matriarch, Alma, and her nine (nove – Italian word for nine) children.
“Shore Beach Club Manly” will be on the top floor.
Mr Wahlberg said he expected the outlet would attract people who were visiting Manly as well as the locals.
“We want to be part of the community, we want to be embraced by everyone, not just a tourist-type location,” he said.
The three brothers are also hoping to be in Manly for the Alma Nove opening.
Mr Mustaca said Wahlburgers “has been a tremendous success in the short time we have been open in Circular Quay”.
“Wahlburgers is a true, family-orientated experience and there is not a lot on offer in Manly for families at the moment,” Mr Mustaca said.
Mr Wahlberg said that Manly Wahlburgers’ customers would see some Aussie specials on the menu.
“Obviously there’s more of an Australian feel to it,” he said.
“So we have the Vegemite aioli to go with the fries, we’ve got the chicken salt on the fries and then you’ve got an opportunity, on the Aussie Burger, with the beetroot and the egg and the pineapple.
“Then there’s be some tasty cheese and other ingredients that people are more familiar with.”
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