Restaurants & Bars

UES Wahlburgers To Close After Failed Health Inspection

The Wahlburg brothers' burger spot was closed by the city Health Department in October. Now it appears the business will close permanently.

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Wahlburgers, the burger franchise started by the famous Wahlberg brothers, will close its Upper East Side restaurant permanently following a failed health inspection, according to reports.

It's unclear whether the failed health inspection is the reason why Whalburgers is the pulling the plug on its Second Avenue and East 85th Street location, Eater New York first reported. A spokesperson for the franchise would not confirm why the burger spot was closing when asked by Eater.

Wahlburgers tallied a total of 53 violation points — well over the 28 point cutoff needed to score a dreaded "C"— during its Oct. 16 health inspection. The Health Department generally opts to close restaurants after an inspection if it deems a violation a "public health hazard" that can not be corrected before an inspection ends or for "serious and persistent violations," according to its grading methodology.

Find out what's happening in Upper East Sidefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Problems at the Upper East Side Wahlburgers included: Evidence of mice or live mice present in the facility, mishandled hot food items, lacking a proper food protection certificate and improperly washed food surfaces, according to public records.

The city inspected Wahlburgers again on Oct. 25 and authorized the business to reopen, according to public records.

Find out what's happening in Upper East Sidefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Wahlburgers was founded by Paul Whalberg, the brother of actor Mark Wahlberg and New Kids on the Block member and actor Donnie Wahlberg. The famous brothers are partners in the business.

Read the full Eater NY post here.

Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images Entertainment

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