Wahlberg says the gamy items are years in the making. There's a larger list of what he wants to put on the menu, but the plan for now is to keep it simple in the beginning and make sure Wahlburgers can acclimate to the market.
"I'm not a hunter, but I sure do like to cook with different things," Wahlberg says. "We're trying to do some different things, but still stay true to our core. And then once we get things established, we'll add some different specials and some other entrees with some more game meats and things like that. We're trying to make it interesting and fun all at the same time."
Wahlburgers was founded 10 years ago by Paul Wahlberg, along with actors Donnie Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg. The operations of the burger chain were the basis of an A&E reality show that ran for 10 seasons.
The joint venture between Wahlburgers and Bass Pro Shops originated from the friendship between Mark Wahlberg and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. The duo has participated in a series of events together, such as the opening of Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, a celebrity golf event to raise funds for military veterans and their families, and Anglers for the Bahamas, a campaign that raised millions of dollars to help Hurricane Dorian victims.
Wahlberg describes the design of the restaurant as "very much that Bass Pro feel with Wahlburgers incorporated into it." The chef assures that customers will recognize the store as a typical Wahlburgers when they walk inside.
"We're both obviously very customer-driven because it's always about the customer experience," Wahlberg says. "If you walk into a Bass Pro, that's the first thing you will get. So customer satisfaction is huge for both of us. That was something that we really thought was a good fit. There's a lot of, especially with Bass Pro, family feel to it. You've got fathers and sons and grandfathers and the whole deal and moms and daughters who are going out and experiencing these things together. It was just was a good fit for us."
In addition to serving in-restaurant guests, the Wahlburgers Wild menu will be available for hotel catering and for guests of Big Cypress Lodge via room service.
Wahlberg says the restaurant has a large following because of the TV show, but he adds that the chain's audience can be boosted even further with a restaurant engaging consumers from around the country.
"There's a tourist element to what we do in a lot of areas," Wahlberg says. "I think it's a good opportunity for us to really introduce people into what it is we do."
