Beloved Hot Dog Chain To Open New Restaurants Inside Retail Giant

IRVINE, CA — Fans of Wienerschnitzel's famous hot dogs will soon be able to satisfy their craving while shopping at Walmart.

The popular hot dog brand confirmed Friday plans to add restaurants to multiple Walmart stores, starting with six owned and operated by local high-caliber franchisees.

According to Wienerschnitzel, the Walmart restaurants will enable the company to "[expand] into target markets through non-traditional avenues."

Where Will They Be Located?

The six restaurants are set to open by this fall in Walmart stores in the following communities:

• Puyallup (Washington)
• Alamogordo (New Mexico)
• Tempe, (Arizona)
• Reno, (Nevada)
• Colorado Springs (Colorado)
• Bakersfield (California)

The Walmart locations will all feature the chain's full menu, including iconic items like the chili cheese dog, junkyard dog, chili cheese fries, jalapeño poppers and "tastee freez" soft serve desserts.

As the brand looks to scale its presence, these partnerships provide a blueprint for future growth while maintaining its iconic brand appeal, according to Wienerschnitzel.

A Walmart spokesperson noted the store chain is "always looking for prospective tenants, excited to possibly bring their business to our stores."

Growing Brands

According to Wienerschnitzel, the move into Walmart stores sparks a new focus on non-traditional growth for the company.

Supporting this expansion and fueling the brand's momentum are strategic new hires like Shak Turner, the brand's newest director of franchise expansion.

Turner, who joined the company in March, will mainly focus on driving growth across non-traditional formats and attracting high-ranking multi-unit franchise candidates, according to Wienerschnitzel.

"Wienerschnitzel has spent decades building a strong reputation, especially on the West Coast, and this expansion into Walmart stores signifies a new era of growth for the brand," Turner said in a news release. "It's clear Wienerschnitzel's unique concept fills a specific void for multi-brand franchisees looking to grow their portfolios, which is one of the elements that attracted me to the brand initially. I'm thrilled to join this amazing team and play a part in spearheading initiatives and new partnerships, which will no doubt catapult the brand to new markets."

There are currently 340 franchised Wienerschnitzel locations in operation throughout 13 states, and more than 50 units in various stages of development across the U.S., according to the company.

Founded by John Galardi in 1961 with a single hot dog stand in Wilmington, Calif., the company now bills itself as "the world's largest hot dog chain."

Based in Tustin, Calif., Galardi Group Inc. franchises 340 Wienerschnitzel restaurants in 13 states. The group is also the parent company and franchisor of Hamburger Stand and Tastee Freez, LLC.

This week, Walmart confirmed plans to open five new stores and a new Sam's Club location by the end of September, with a total of 10 new stores planned to be open by the end of 2025.

More Walmart Stories Trending on Patch:

• Walmart To Open Several New Stores By September 2025: Here's Where
• Major Retailer Announces New FL Stores, Overhauls To Dozens Of Others
• East Windsor Walmart To Be Converted Into Supercenter
• Big Box Store In Aberdeen Part Of Nationwide Remodeling Initiative

According to a spokesperson, the five new Walmart stores planned to open by September include two in Florida and one in Alabama, California and Utah.