Posted on: Saturday, September 18, 2004

Wendy's to open 5th outlet on O'ahu

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

The slow expansion of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers in Hawai'i is making its way to Kahala, as the Ohio-based maker of the square hamburger plans to open a fifth restaurant on O'ahu.

Plans for the fast-food outlet at a former Chevron gas station site at Kilauea and Wai'alae avenues call for the Wendy's to open in late 2005.

The planned addition comes as Wendy's International Inc. aggressively expands to overtake Burger King as the nation's second-largest fast-food chain behind McDonald's, and would help rebuild the brand in Hawai'i after all its restaurants were converted to Jack in the Box in 1988.

A Colorado Wendy's franchisee first re-established the brand in Hawai'i, opening a store on Maui around 1993, and expanded with two on the Big Island and today also has one on O'ahu in Wahiawa.

Wendy's International opened a company-owned restaurant at Royal Kunia in 1997, added a second in 2001 in Kapolei, and its third opened on Pu'uhale Road last year.

Despite the gradual comeback, some residents still reminisce about eating the odd-shaped burgers, frosty deserts and other items at the chain established by the late Dave Thomas in 1969.

"We used to eat there every Friday night," Makiki resident Candy Osora, said, recalling a tradition that ended with the former disappearance of Wendy's in Hawai'i. "We used to love their chili and their square hamburgers."

Osora, a property accountant at Kahala Mall, said she'll have to revisit her old friend when Wendy's opens next year.

Wendy's International and its franchisees have been opening record numbers of restaurants, just under 600, in each of the past two years. The company's goal this year is to open another 550 to 600 restaurants. The chain at the end of June had 6,535 restaurants worldwide, and $1.7 billion in sales for the first six months of the year.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.