Wendy’s Mania Hits Brisbane: Cult US Burger Chain Sparks Chaos with 5am Queues and ‘Amazing’ Food
- Wendy’s opens its second Australian store in Brisbane, drawing in massive crowds and sparking a ‘playful rivalry’ with other fast-food chains
- Devoted fans queue from 5am to be among the first to try the ‘queen’ of fast food, with many declaring the food ‘lived up to the hype’
- The ‘global first’ store features a unique design, including a bright blue exterior, a ‘red room’ celebrating Wendy’s sass, and a ‘blue side’ dedicated to the iconic Frosty
It was a chaotic scene in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall yesterday as cult US burger chain Wendy’s opened its doors to the public for the first time. Hundreds of eager customers, some of whom had been waiting outside since 5am, swarmed the store to get a taste of the highly-anticipated food.
“We wanted to be first in line,” said one mother, who had traveled from Townsville with her two sons to try the food. “We’re on holiday, and we just made it part of our trip.”
The family were among the first to try the iconic Wendy’s Frostys, declaring them “amazing” after sampling the frozen dairy dessert. Another customer, who had tried Wendy’s in Indonesia, said she was keen to see how the Australian version compared, particularly when it came to the chilli.
Others were drawn in by the allure of the Baconmator, a cult-cheeseburger featuring two beef patties, six strips of bacon, cheese, mayonnaise, and ketchup. “It totally lived up to the hype,” said one satisfied customer, who had queued up since 5.30am to try the meal.
The store itself is a marvel, featuring a bright blue exterior and a unique design that brings Wendy’s personality to life. The ‘red room’ is dedicated to celebrating Wendy’s sass, with bespoke wall panelling and tables etched with the phrase “We don’t cut corners” – a nod to the square beef patties.
The ‘blue side’ of the store is dedicated to the iconic Frosty, complete with selfie mirrors and a handmade Bow Wall installation made from upcycled materials. According to Lauren Leahy, Wendy’s chief transformation officer, the store is proof that the business is committed to doing things differently.
“We’ve taken Wendy’s much-loved global brand and reimagined it for Australia,” she said. “The new store brings that to life in a way that’s both unmistakably Wendy’s and uniquely Australian.”
The opening of Wendy’s in Brisbane marks a significant moment in the fast-food industry, with several US chains entering the Australian market in the past year. According to Corina Black, Wendy’s Australia and New Zealand’s chief marketing officer, the business is responding to customer demand for something new and exciting in the burger space.
“We’ve done it in our own unique way that really responds to what Australians are looking for,” she said. “And that demand was undeniable when we opened [in Surfer’s Paradise] to see the queues and the way people lined up.”
As the fast-food landscape continues to evolve, one thing is certain – Wendy’s is here to stay, and its arrival in Brisbane is set to shake things up in a big way.