Tom Wahl's
Encyclopedia
Tom Wahl's is a chain of fast-food restaurants based in the Rochester, New York
area that currently has several restaurants around the Finger Lakes region
. USA Today
named it one of "51 great burger joints across the USA" in 2010.
Tom Wahl, Sr. opened first restaurant opened in Avon, New York
in March 1955 The restaurant specializes in "ground steak sandwiches" and its famous root beer and ice cream.
The restaurant chain was sold in 1986 to Bill Gray's
, Inc. During this time the chain opened a variant of its traditional dine-style restaurant called Wahl Street in the village of Pittsford
. Featuring more of a serious feel in dining, this concept lasted a few years before closing down, returning the chain solely to the diner-style feel. In 2011, an equity group that includes Mark Wahlberg
, Donnie Wahlberg
, and chef Paul Wahlberg licensed the name "Wahlburger" from Tom Wahl's for use in their own restaurant.
There are currently a total of eight restaurants:
Tom Wahl's also sells its own brand of root beer and frozen custard
at all of its restaurants.
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
area that currently has several restaurants around the Finger Lakes region
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
. USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
named it one of "51 great burger joints across the USA" in 2010.
Tom Wahl, Sr. opened first restaurant opened in Avon, New York
Avon (village), New York
Avon is a village in Livingston County, New York, USA. The population was 2,977 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the River Avon. ....
in March 1955 The restaurant specializes in "ground steak sandwiches" and its famous root beer and ice cream.
The restaurant chain was sold in 1986 to Bill Gray's
Bill Gray's
Bill Gray's is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Webster, New York that currently has 15 restaurants opened in the Rochester and Buffalo areas in western New York; six of these locations also sell Abbott's Frozen Custard.In 1938, Bill and Alberta Gray began selling hot dogs in Webster...
, Inc. During this time the chain opened a variant of its traditional dine-style restaurant called Wahl Street in the village of Pittsford
Pittsford (village), New York
Pittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
. Featuring more of a serious feel in dining, this concept lasted a few years before closing down, returning the chain solely to the diner-style feel. In 2011, an equity group that includes Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, film and television producer, and former rapper. He was known as Marky Mark in his earlier years, and became famous for his 1991 debut as a musician with the band Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. He was named No. 1 on VH1's 40 Hottest Hotties of...
, Donnie Wahlberg
Donnie Wahlberg
Donald Edward "Donnie" Wahlberg, Jr. is an American singer, actor and film producer. He is a member of the popular 1980s and 1990s boy band New Kids on the Block. His work background includes music, feature films, and television...
, and chef Paul Wahlberg licensed the name "Wahlburger" from Tom Wahl's for use in their own restaurant.
There are currently a total of eight restaurants:
- Avon, New YorkAvon (village), New YorkAvon is a village in Livingston County, New York, USA. The population was 2,977 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the River Avon. ....
- Bushnell’s Basin, New York
- Canandaigua, New YorkCanandaigua (town), New YorkCanandaigua is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 7,649 at the 2000 census. The name is a native word for "the chosen spot" or "the chosen place."...
- Eastview MallEastview MallEastview Mall, located in Victor, New York and managed by Mike Kauffman, is an indoor shopping center owned and operated by Wilmorite Management Group, LLC ....
- Greece Ridge MallThe Mall at Greece RidgeThe Mall at Greece Ridge is located in Greece, a suburb of Rochester, New York, and managed by Wilmorite Management Group LLC. It contains 140 stores and restaurants in the main complex, with 10 big box retailers including Dick's Sporting Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond, Barnes & Noble, Michaels,...
- Marketplace MallThe Marketplace MallThe Marketplace Mall is managed by Wilmorite and located in the heart of the Rochester, New York metropolitan area on Hylan Drive, in the suburb of Henrietta....
- Newark, New YorkNewark, New YorkNewark is a village in Wayne County, New York, U.S., south east of Rochester. The population was 9,682 at the 2000 census.The Village of Newark is in the south part of the Town of Arcadia and is in the south of Wayne County.- History :...
- Perinton, New YorkPerinton, New YorkPerinton is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 46,090 at the 2000 census.The Village of Fairport, New York is within the town on the Erie Canal. Perinton is adjacent to the village of East Rochester , and the towns of Victor , Macedon , Pittsford , and Penfield...
Tom Wahl's also sells its own brand of root beer and frozen custard
Frozen custard
Frozen custard is a cold dessert similar to ice cream, made with eggs in addition to cream and sugar.In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration requires products marketed as frozen custard to contain at least 10 percent milkfat and 1.4 percent egg yolk solids. If it has fewer egg yolk...
at all of its restaurants.