Wahlburgers one step closer to Coney opening

The Boston burger is coming to Coney Island.

Wahlburgers, the burgeoning burger joint founded by Mark, Paul and Donnie Wahlberg (and the focal point of the hit A&E reality series), will open a 6,800-square-foot restaurant with a rooftop bar overlooking the beach just in time for summer, according to franchise reps.

“For our first store in New York, Coney Island is perfect,” said Mark Wahlberg. “It’s all about bringing together friends, family and sharing good times, just like our brand. We’re looking forward to partnering with a great team in New York and creating amazing memories at Wahlburgers.”

While it won’t be open by May 1, as originally promised, Wahlburgers’ debut New York outpost at 3015 Stillwell Avenue will seat 300 people and feature a rooftop patio with a retractable glass roof and an indoor-outdoor bar as well as a main level dining room and a walk-up window. According to reps, the Coney Island site will serve breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m., but morph into a more active scene after dark, with DJs and live music.

The menu will be reminiscent of the eatery’s original bill of fare, first written in 2011 for its flagship in Hingham, Massachusetts, featuring a variety of classic, casual burgers, plus a turkey burger, and a fish sandwich. Desserts, reps say, will reflect its surroundings, offering up some beachy frappes and refreshing orange mango soda.

Of course, beach-goers will be able to wet their whistles with one of Wahlburgers’ specialty cocktails and beers, or Wahlbrewskis.

The Coney Island site is just one of 40 new Wahlburgers either in development or under agreement and one of seven slated to open in New York City under New York-based Big Apple Burgers.

The seaside’s slice of Boston will be owned and operated by the Wahlburgs as well as franchisee John Cestare of Big Apple Burgers.

“Growing up in New York, Coney Island was a summertime family tradition,” said Cestare. “The Wahlberg family also shares that tradition, which is why we wanted our first New York outpost to be here. It is truly the perfect partnership for us, blending similar values and family-work culture with that of the Wahlberg family and brand.”

For more information, visit www.wahlburgersny.com.

Images courtesy of Wahlburgers