Hy-Vee Inc. announced today that it will open its first Wahlburgers restaurant franchise at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., next summer. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant will be the first of 26 franchise locations to be built, owned and operated by the West Des Moines-based grocer. The Boston-based franchise was created by chef Paul Wahlberg with two of his brothers, actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg. “Hy-Vee is excited to launch the first of many new restaurants in partnership with Wahlburgers, and to bring a new dining experience to the Twin Cities,” said Randy Edeker, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee had announced in August that it planned to open its first Wahlburgers in West Des Moines. Spokeswoman Amy McCoy said that the Mall of America site was available sooner than the West Des Moines location, which will open “sometime next year.” In addition to the location at Mall of America, Hy-Vee will soon offer Wahlburgers-branded menu items in its full-service Hy-Vee Market Grille restaurants across its eight-state region.