Former celebrity-owned Johnson County burger chain to become local Mexican restaurant
The former Wahlburgers at 11935 Black Bob Road in Olathe, which closed in January 2022, will soon take on a new life.
Viva Tacos and Tequila will open its second location in the space. The Mexican restaurant’s original location is at 5031 W. 135th St. in Leawood.
Manager Emmanuel Perez said it will open sometime next year, perhaps February or later, he said.
“We try to give a different environment than the typical Mexican restaurant,” Perez said.
The second Viva location’s menu will be similar to the first. Offerings include its fajita burritos, fish tacos, enchiladas and, of course, frozen margaritas.
Wahlburgers was founded by actor/musicians Mark and Donnie Wahlberg and their chef brother, Paul, in 2011. The famous family scored an A&E reality show in 2014, centered around their burger business.
Wahlburgers partnered with franchisee Hy-Vee in 2018, which opened burger restaurants inside some of its stores.
The Olathe Pointe Wahlbergers was the Kansas City area’s first stand-alone location, and after it closed, Hy-Vee said new Wahlburgers would only open inside Hy-Vee stores.
“With the changing nature of the restaurant business combined with staffing challenges, we are evolving our strategy when it comes to this particular Wahlburgers restaurant location,” read a Hy-Vee statement at the time.
Wahlburgers is inside several Kansas City area HyVee stores, including 8900 W. 119th St. in Overland Park and 5330 N.W. 64th St. in the Northland.
Before the Olathe restaurant housed Wahlburgers for about four years, it was home to On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina. Then, Dodge City Distillery opened in 2011 but shuttered in 2014.
