Wendy’s to open Brisbane flagship as part of plan for 200 Australian stores
US burger chain says its ‘Haus of Wendy’ in Brisbane will kick off a decade-long expansion after a busy debut on the Gold Coast
Wendy’s on Thursday confirmed it will open a flagship “Haus of Wendy” restaurant in Brisbane in October as the U.S. fast-food chain seeks to expand across Australia and reach 200 outlets over the next decade.
The announcement follows Wendy’s January debut in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, where the opening drew long queues and widespread social media attention as Australians tried the brand’s square beef patties, chicken tenders and signature Frosty dessert. The company said the Brisbane location will feature themed rooms described as bringing “Wendy’s famous personality to life.”
Wendy’s ANZ chief marketing officer Corina Black said the Brisbane flagship is intended to “mark the start of the next decade” for the brand in Australia. Flynn Group Asia Pacific president Richard Wallis said in a statement the store is “more than a restaurant, it’s a statement of intent,” adding that Brisbane provides “the perfect stage to show how Wendy’s stands apart, with quality food, an immersive experience, and a brand that’s impossible to ignore.”
Wendy’s first Australian restaurant opened on the Gold Coast in January and was met with hours-long lines. Social media footage showed customers lining up before the venue opened and queues stretching out onto the street. A ribbon-cutting ceremony preceded the rush of customers into the new outlet.
The brand’s initial Australian reviews have been largely positive on social media. Gold Coast content creator Claudia Macdonald, who attended an opening event, described the menu items she tried — including the homestyle and spicy chicken tender burgers, a classic beef burger and the Frosty — as “mouth-watering,” and said the Frosty tasted like “ice cream and thick shake mixed together.” Food reviewer Mariana Bouzeid sampled the Baconmator and a chicken tender burger and told reporters she found them superior to other quick-service options, saying Wendy’s was “100 per cent better” in her view.
Wendy’s entry into Australia comes amid a crowded quick-service market that already includes established global brands and local chains. The company stressed that its Australian rollout is separate from an unrelated domestic business that operates under the same name and sells ice cream and hot dogs; that local operator continues to trade independently.
Corporate materials and executives have set a target of opening 200 Wendy’s stores across Australia during the coming decade. The rollout will include both company-operated and franchised locations, according to the statement, with an emphasis on immersive restaurant design for flagship locations such as the Brisbane store.
Wendy’s is known in the United States for its square patties, Frosty desserts and menu of burgers and chicken sandwiches. The company did not provide a detailed rollout schedule beyond the Brisbane flagship opening in October and the 200-store target for the next decade. Executives said further site announcements and franchise opportunities will be disclosed in coming months as the expansion progresses.
The Brisbane flagship announcement reinforces the company’s public-facing expansion strategy following the Gold Coast opening earlier this year, which the brand and local media cited as an indicator of consumer appetite for another U.S. quick-service entrant in Australia.