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The midpoint of 2024 marked the end of operations for the Wahlburgers restaurant in Carmel and the Castleton location of MOTW Coffee & Pastries.
Each business shared its closure news by posting a handwritten note on an entrance door.
Wahlburgers, a hamburger chain launched by Boston-based chef Paul Wahlberg and co-owned by his brothers, actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg, indicated that June 30 was the final day of business at 1200 S. Rangeline Road. The Wahlburgers location opened in 2021. No reason for the closure was shared in the note.
“Thank you to everyone who dined with us,” read the note attributed to the Wahlburgers staff. “We have enjoyed serving every one of you.”
The 4,000-square-foot Carmel restaurant was the only Indiana location for Wahlburgers, which operates in more than 20 states as well as in Australia and Canada.
Wahlburgers officials told IBJ before the opening that they were considering opening as many as five central Indiana locations, but that never came to fruition.
The chain was the subject of A&E reality show that ran for 10 seasons and nearly 100 episodes, ending in 2019.
Attempts to reach representatives of Wahlburgers were unsuccessful.
The note at MOTW Coffee & Pastries, 6706 E. 82nd St., described a westward shift for the business.
“Our two-year lease is officially up,” read the note attributed to the MOTW team. “We will now be moving this location to Illinois.”
The note thanked customers and mentioned three MOTW locations that remain open in central Indiana:
- 4873 W. 38th St., the first MOTW shop, which opened in 2021.
- 8235 E. 116th St., Fishers, which opened in 2022.
- 12761 Old Meridian St. Carmel, which opened in 2023.
Sajjad Shah, who grew up in Fishers, founded MOTW Coffee & Pastries after building an audience for an Instagram profile titled Muslims of the World.
The planned Illinois relocation for the Castleton coffee shop will become the second MOTW in the state. The company expanded to Chicago suburb Lombard in February. In a June 23 Instagram post, MOTW announced a future spot in Chicago suburb Naperville.
On the East Coast, a MOTW shop opened in New Haven, Connecticut, in January. In a June 3 Instagram post, the company announced a future spot in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.
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MOTW closure: A two year lease is kind of unusual, but I imagine the landlord was desperate to get any use out of that space since Starbucks left it. Its a really awkward lot and building.
I love the concept and their tea tends to be good, but their coffee is severely lacking.
Unfortunate, good burgers. Maybe too far away from the Carmel downtown area. Out of sight, out of mind 🙁
Wahlbergers meat and fries tasted very greasy.