Wahlburgers opens at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

A celebrity-founded restaurant is now open in the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Wahlburgers — started by brothers Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg — began welcoming customers Feb. 28 at SRQ, which marks the brand's fifth airport outpost and its first on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Wahlburgers sells starters, burgers, sandwiches, sides, breakfast items, shakes, floats, desserts, beer, wine and adult shakes. 

“We’re proud to bring our signature flavors to such a vibrant destination,” Wahlburgers CEO Randy Sharpe says in a statement. “Sarasota Bradenton’s strong sense of community and distinct personality align perfectly with the Wahlburgers brand.”

The first Wahlburgers restaurant debuted in Hingham, Massachusetts — near where the brothers grew up in Dorchester — in 2011, and the brand has grown to locations around the world. It gained publicity through a reality TV show called “Wahlburgers” that aired on A&E from 2014 to 2019, following the business and its founders. Mark and Donnie Wahlberg are both actors and musicians, while Chef Paul Wahlberg is the culinary inspiration behind the company.

The SRQ restaurant is operated in partnership with food and beverage operator SSP America, which runs hundreds of restaurants at travel hubs across North America. Other Wahlburgers airport outposts are located at Boston Logan International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Delaware North. More airport openings are planned as part of the brand’s expansion strategy.

“Wahlburgers combines the comfort of a neighborhood burger joint with a fun, celebrity-driven atmosphere,” Jen Juul, vice president of business development for SSP America, says in the statement. “The brand aligns beautifully with the spirit of SRQ and the growth happening across the airport. As a member of the SRQ community, our purpose is to be the best part of the journey, and welcoming Wahlburgers into our SRQ portfolio helps us create the memorable dining moments travelers crave.” 

At SRQ, Wahlburgers is located in Concourse B. It is one of several new food and beverage offerings added to the terminal over the last year, including Mattison’s City Grille, Salt & Tide Bar, Motorworks Brewing, The Salty Key and Huey Magoo’s On the Fly. 

Other Wahlburgers locations in Florida are on the East Coast — in Stuart, Rockledge and Vero Beach. Another is coming soon in Melbourne.

“This opening marks an exciting milestone in our strategic Florida expansion,” Wahlburgers CEO Sharpe says, “with even more locations planned throughout Florida in 2026.”