The Wendy's Story The Wendy's Story Dave Thomas opens the first Wendy's® restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, at 257 E. Broad Street. 1970 - Pick-Up Window November The second Wendy's opens in Columbus, featuring a quick-service restaurant industry innovation -- a Pick-Up Window with a separate grill. 1975 - Across the Border … First Canadian Restaurant Opens September Wendy’s opens its first restaurant in Canada. 1976 - Wendy's Goes Public September Wendy's has its initial public stock offering on the NASDAQ exchange, issuing one million common shares of stock, at $28 per share. 1976 - 500th Wendy's Opens Wendy's hits the 500th restaurant milestone, with a new restaurant in Toronto, Canada. 1977 - First Television Commercial April Wendy's unveils its first network television commercial, becoming the first quick-service chain with less than 1,000 restaurants to launch a national advertising campaign. 1978 - 1,000th Wendy's Opens March Wendy’s set an industry record by opening 1,000 restaurants in 100 months, with a new location in Springfield, Tennessee.

1979 - Introducing … The Salad Bar November Wendy’s begins its menu diversification program by adding the Salad Bar to its menu. 1980 - 2,000 Restaurants … and Counting November Wendy's opens its 2,000th restaurant. 1981 - Wendy's Joins NYSE Wendy's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, using the trading symbol "WEN." 1983 - Baked Potatoes Join the Menu October Wendy's became the first national quick-service restaurant chain to introduce Hot Stuffed Baked Potatoes nationwide. 1984 - "Where's the Beef" January Wendy's introduces "Where's the Beef®?" starring Clara Peller and sidekicks Elizabeth Shaw and Mildred Lane. "Where's the Beef?" was the year’s most popular television commercial. 1984 - Fifteen Candles for Wendy's November Wendy's celebrates its 15th birthday with more than 2,900 restaurants in the United States and 14 countries. 1985 - 3,000th Wendy's Opens Wendy's opens its 3,000th restaurant, located in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

1989 - Dave Thomas, TV Star April Wendy's introduces a national advertising campaign starring founder Dave Thomas, who quickly became a beloved and iconic figure. Dave continued to appear in more than 800 commercials. 1989 - Super Value Menu Launches October Wendy’s makes another bold marketing move by introducing the Wendy's Super Value Menu, featuring nine quality items available every day for just 99¢ each. 1990 - Grilled Chicken Sandwich Wendy's introduces the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, as part of an expanded corporate nutrition policy. 1990 - Wendy's Embraces Adoption October President George H.W. Bush asks Dave Thomas to serve as spokesperson for the national initiative, "Adoption Works... For Everyone." Wendy's embraces adoption as its national charitable cause, and in the 25 years hence commits thousands of hours and millions of dollars to raise adoption awareness. 1992 - Introducing Fresh Salads To Go March Wendy's adds five Fresh Salads To Go to the menu: Grilled Chicken, Deluxe Garden, Taco Caesar and Side Salads.

1992 - Wendy’s Creates Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption July Wendy’s establishes the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, a charity with one goal: helping every child in foster care find a permanent, loving home. 1992 - Wendy's 3Tour Challenge Debuts September Wendy’s hosts a professional golf tournament -- the Wendy's 3Tour Challenge® -- to benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The Challenge continues through 2013, raising more than $11.6 million in net proceeds over two decades. 1992 - 4,000th Wendy's Opens Wendy's opens its 4,000th restaurant in Bentonville, Arkansas. 1994 - High School Heisman Program Kicks Off December Wendy's honors the nation's most esteemed high school seniors by establishing the Wendy’s High School Heisman®, in partnership with the Heisman Memorial Trophy® Committee. Each year, this leadership award recognizes well-rounded young men and women who excel in learning, performing and leading in the classroom, on the field and in the community. 1994 - Wendy's Turns 25 November Wendy's celebrates its 25th birthday with nearly 4,400 restaurants.

The company finishes the year with all-time record sales and profitability. 1995 - Wendy's Merges with Tim Hortons December Wendy's merges with Tim Hortons®, a Canadian coffee and baked goods restaurant chain. 1997 - 5,000th Wendy's Opens Wendy's opens its 5,000th restaurant, a Wendy's/Tim Hortons combo unit located in Columbus, Ohio. 1998 - Wendy’s Service Excellence Program January Wendy's introduces the Wendy's Service Excellence® program in the western region of the U.S.; later, it expands to every restaurant nationwide. 1999 - Wendy's Celebrates 30th Anniversary November Wendy's marks its 30th anniversary with 5,400 restaurants worldwide. 2000 - U.S. Postage Stamp Celebrates Adoption May Dave Thomas’ and Wendy's support of adoption awareness programs reaches new heights when the U.S. Postal Service releases a postage stamp celebrating adoption. 2001 - 6,000th Wendy's Opens Wendy's opens its 6,000th restaurant, located in Tijuana, Mexico.

2002 - Founder Dave Thomas Passes Away January Founder Dave Thomas passes away at the age of 69. 2003 - Wendy's Opens Innovation Center June Wendy's opens its state-of-the-art Research and Development Innovation Center at its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ohio. 2004 - Chicken Temptations Launches April Wendy's launches new line of chicken sandwiches -- Chicken Temptations -- featuring Homestyle Chicken Fillet, a crispier Spicy Chicken, and the Ultimate Chicken Grill. 2004 - Wendy's Introduces Kids' Meal Choices July Wendy's introduces Kids' Meal Choices, allowing – at no additional charge – the substitution of mandarin oranges for French fries, and either 2% reduced fat white milk or 1% low fat chocolate milk instead of a soft drink. 2004 - Wendy's Introduces Combo Choices November Wendy's unveils a Combo Choices menu, enabling customers to substitute a baked potato, small chili or one of two side salads for French fries when ordering a combo meal.

2006 - No Trans Fat July In a move that significantly reduces trans fatty acids (TFAs) on its menu, Wendy's announces the switch to a nonhydrogenated cooking oil – with 0 grams of trans fat – for French fries and breaded chicken items in its North American restaurants. 2006 - Tim Hortons Goes Public March Wendy’s successfully spins off Tim Hortons as a separate public company, with an initial public offering of the Canadian chain. 2006 - Wendy's Adds Vanilla Frosty August Wendy's adds the vanilla-flavored Frosty™ to the menu, giving customers another tasty option for its iconic dessert. 2007 - Father's Day Frosty Weekend June The Wendy’s holds the first Father's Day Frosty Weekend at restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, raising more than $1 million for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's signature program, Wendy's Wonderful Kids®. 2007 - The Baconator Wendy's introduces the Baconator® — a double cheeseburger with six strips of bacon and fresh toppings.

2008 - Wendy's and Arby's Merge September Wendy's and Arby's merges, creating a new public company called The Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. 2009 - Happy 40th Birthday, Wendy's! November World's First Wendy's (Gone), Columbus, Ohio World's First Wendy's opened in Columbus in 1969. World's First Wendy's (Gone) Columbus, Ohio Ohio is history's not-so-ancient Cradle of Fast Food, where many a restaurant chain traces its 20th century origins (BurgerBoy, Sisters Chicken and Biscuits, RAX, Bob Evans). Wendy's is on top of this triple-meat heap, operating restaurants around the world. While the saga told of other fast food giants often starts with a single local restaurant and a secret chicken or shake recipe, Wendy's, with its upscale square burgers, seemed conceived from the start as an infinitely expandable franchise. Dave Thomas opened his first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers in downtown Columbus in November, 1969.

Before launching Wendy's, 35-year old Dave spent his career studying the fast food chain business from the inside out. He worked with Colonel Sanders at one point, and restored a handful of KFC outlets to profitability. His Wendy's concept broke new ground for the eat-and-run crowd -- though a little more expensive than the competition, its fresh 100% domestic ground beef burgers, made-to-order, quickly found a salivating share of the market. Original Test Griddle "used to cook the signature quarter pound square hamburger made from fresh ground beef." Thomas named the business after his daughter Melinda "Wendy" Thomas (a nickname coined by her brothers and sisters). Within a year, Thomas opened a second restaurant in Columbus, featuring what Wendy's claims in its corporate history was "the first modern-day, drive-thru window," added in 1971. Not the very first, but Wendy's crafted the formula for drive-thru operations that made it a staple in the fast food industry, convenient for soccer moms and frantic road trippers. Wendy's first franchisee signed up in 1972 in Indianapolis. By 1976 there were 500 restaurants.

The salad bar, another milestone for a national chain, was added in 1979. With such a heaping platter of culinary innovation, we griped in the early 1990s about the lack of historical exhibits in the original restaurant (there wasn't much more than a 1976 commemorative plaque). Today Wendy's is in 34 countries with 5,000 US restaurants. Dave Thomas died January 8, 2002, but there's no danger he'll be forgotten --- at least not on one particular corner in downtown Columbus. The corporation has added many more items to its Home of the First Wendy's Restaurant. The walls of the dining room and ordering area are covered with displays, photographs, and artifacts. It's still primarily a place to wolf down a hot lunch, but the exhibits are free for examination even if you aren't dining. You can see the original hamburger test griddle, mounted on a plaque on the wall. The signature goofy dress worn by daughter Wendy is modeled on a mannequin. A few displays remind visitors of Wendy's occasionally memorable ad campaigns.

In 1984 "Where's the Beef?," a cranky little old lady captured America's attention; the phrase still lingers today as a substantive challenge in business and politics. There's a photo of a young, 100% beefcake Arnold Schwarzenegger dressed in a Wendy's shirt and hat -- behind the counter in a 1979 ad. Some items are the predictable leftovers corporations prefer to show off -- trophies and PR totems, such as the Olympic torch carried by Dave Thomas through Dublin, Ohio in 1996. Then there are real gems, such as a Frosty cup and spoon used by actor Danny Thomas (no relation) at the grand opening, saved by him for 25 years before being donated. It's now enshrined under a glass dome labeled with a brass plaque. Update: The original Wendy's closed its doors forever on March 2, 2007. The culprits? Fewer customers and the high cost to renovate. Wendy's corporate office reportedly delayed the closing for years. The artifacts and displays at the restaurant were packed up and moved to the company's headquarters in Dublin, Ohio.

The store was later demolished; today a historical marker stands at the site. World's First Wendy's Wendy's - History | BlueMauMau, franchise news for franchisees Posted Tue, 2006-05-30 14:28 by Mr. Blue MauMau Wendy's is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Dublin, Ohio and owned by the American corporation Wendy's International, Inc. There are over 6,600 Wendy's restaurants worldwide. The chain is famous for its chili . Also, it is known for its Frosty dairy desserts, the fact that their burgers are square and made from fresh (as opposed to frozen) ground beef, and its making of all sandwich items to order. Unlike most fast food chains, Wendy's historically did not serve breakfast , except for stores in Puerto Rico . Wendy's tried serving breakfast in the mid-1980s, but the endeavor quickly failed. History Founding Wendy's was founded by Dave Thomas and Robert Barney in 1969 and named after Dave's 8-year old daughter, Melinda, who had the nickname of "Wendy." The corporate headquarters is located in Dublin , Ohio .

The first Wendy's restaurant was opened in Columbus, Ohio on November 15 , 1969 , and grew rapidly to open over 3,000 stores by 1985 . However, by the mid- 1980s some Wendy's restaurants became underperforming and closed. By 1989 , Dave Thomas came out of retirement and started doing commercials for Wendy's and helped rebuild the restaurant until his death. International expansion After international expansion in the 1980s, the chain retrenched in the late 1990s. In 1999 it pulled out of London and Hong Kong (its Hong Kong branch was located on Lockhart Road in Wan Chai ). Ownership In 1995 , Tim Hortons ' popularity had spilled over to American investors; the chain's parent company, The TDL Group ("TDL" stands for the original corporate name "Tim Donut Ltd."), was acquired by Wendy's International, Inc. . As a result, Ron Joyce , Tim Horton 's partner and first franchisee, was, for a time, the largest shareholder of Wendy's.

News events Chili hoax On March 22 , 2005 , Anna Ayala of Las Vegas, NV claimed to find an amputated human finger in her chili . On April 21 she was arrested and charged with attempted grand larceny in connection with the finger discovery claim. On May 13 , police announced that they had positively identified the finger's owner, an associate of Ayala's husband [1] . The associate had lost his finger in an industrial accident in December 2004 . Mrs. Ayala pled guilty to the charge in September 2005 and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Her husband pleaded guilty to being an accomplice and received a twelve year sentence on January 18 , 2006 . Countries with Wendy's Locations of Wendy's Aside from the United States , Wendy's has opened restaurants in Aruba , Canada , Cayman Islands , El Salvador , Greece , Guatemala , Honduras , Hungary , Indonesia , Jamaica , Japan , Mexico , New Zealand , Panama , Philippines , Saudi Arabia , The United Arab Emirates and Venezuela . Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers didn't last long in Australia nor in Colombia .

Nine restaurants were picked up in Victoria by Hungry Jack's in 1986 after the Wendy's Hamburger Chain went bust. The Hungry Jack's Story explains in limited detail about the Wendy's Hamburgers acquisition. Stores in Australia called Wendy's are an Australian ice cream franchise which is unrelated to the American hamburger chain (stores for both are found in New Zealand . See Wendy's (Australia) . Wendy's restaurants closed in Greece in 2002 after almost 8 years of operation due to heavy competition from other restaurants such as Goody's and McDonald's . Wendy's also had locations in major cities across the United Kingdom ; these were sold to McDonald's in 1999 . Wendy's also had 18 restaurants in Argentina . All of them were closed in November 2000. Wendy's had been in the local market for four years and made the decision due to the poor performance of its restaurants. [2] [3] Advertising Starting on January 9 , 1984 , elderly actress Clara Peller was featured in the successful " Where's the Beef? " North American commercial campaign for Wendy's.

Her famous line quickly entered the American pop culture (it was even used by Walter Mondale in a debate with Gary Hart in the Democratic primary election ) and served to promote Wendy's hamburgers . Peller, age 84, was dropped from the campaign in 1985 because she performed in a commercial for Prego spaghetti sauce, saying she "finally found" the beef. Peller was soon after replaced by Wendy's founder Dave Thomas himself. Soft-spoken and cheerful, the "Dave" ads generally focused on Thomas praising his products and offering a commitment to quality service, although there would occasionally be "wackier" ads as well. After Dave Thomas' death in 2002 , Wendy's struggled to find a new advertising campaign. After a round of conventional ads describing the food they serve, in 2004 they tried using a character they made called "Mr. Wendy" who claimed to be the unofficial spokesperson for the chain. After seven months, Wendy's returned to an animated campaign focusing on the difference between Wendy's square hamburgers and the round hamburgers of competitors. Wendy's marketing arm engages in product placement in films (such as The Day After Tomorrow , Mr.

Deeds , and Garfield: The Movie ) and television and is sometimes seen on ABC's hit reality show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition serving food to the more than 100 construction workers. Slogans History of Wendy's – How It All Began - Fast Food Menu Prices Fast Food Menu Prices History of Wendy’s – How It All Began Posted on by Editorial Staff The history of Wendy’s began with the dream of one man: Dave Thomas. Born in 1932 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he was adopted at birth by Rex and Auleva Thomas. When Dave was 5 years old his adoptive mother died, and he spent a great deal of time with his grandmother while his father traveled around the country looking for work. At the age of 12 Dave found work at The Regas, a restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee. He lost the job, but this experience would have a lasting impact on him and his dream of starting up his own restaurant. History of Wendy’s – The Beginning After Dave lost his job at The Regis he got another job at Walgreens as a soda jerk, but that didn’t last either after his boss found out he was not yet 16 years old.

These setbacks didn’t deter Dave however, and when he was 15 he and his father ended up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Dave landed a job at the Hobby House Restaurant. His family would relocate but Dave stayed behind to continue working at the Hobby House Restaurant, dropping out of high school in the process. At the age of 18 he joined the Army and when he came back resumed working in the Hobby House Restaurant. In 1956 Dave, together with his boss Phil Clauss, inaugurated The Ranch House Restaurant and it was at this point that he first met Colonel Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the three entered into an agreement and Dave ended up owning four KFC restaurants. During this time, the KFC branches were struggling, and Sanders, impressed with Dave’s work at the Hobby House restaurant, offered him a business partnership deal if he could turn them around. Not only did Dave manage to make a profit with the restaurants, but he made enough money to open more restaurants. In 1968, at the age of 35, Dave sold his KFC restaurants back to Kentucky Fried Chicken and the following year, finally realized his long cherished dream of opening his very own restaurant.

In 1969, Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburger Restaurant was opened in Columbus, Ohio. Open for Business Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers was named after Dave’s daughter Melinda “Wendy” Thomas, and the place immediately got the attention of the industry because they provided made to order burgers with fresh meat. In addition, the company gained a reputation for providing high quality food at competitive prices. While Wendy’s was (and is) best known for its hamburgers, their restaurant also offered choices for health conscious people such as the salad bar beginning in 1979. And to further diversify the offerings, Wendy’s restaurants added potato entrees, chili, chicken sandwiches, French Fries, the Frosty and an assortment of beverages. Wendy’s doesn’t have a signature sandwich, but is instead best known for their square burger patties. Dave came up with the idea of using square patties after his visit to Kewpee Hamburgers in Kalamazoo, Michigan where they were used. Following the opening of the first Wendy’s restaurant in 1969, he opened another one within a year in Columbus and other branches began appearing throughout the United States.

On September 23, 1975, Wendy’s inaugurated its first branch in Hamilton, Canada and then throughout the rest of the world. After its successes in the 1970s, Wendy’s restaurants began to struggle during the early 1980s due to stiff competition. To counter this, the company embarked on a new marketing and advertising campaign using Clara Peller, an elderly actress in their “Where’s the Beef?” commercial campaign. These commercials, aired in 1984, proved so successful that the expression “Where’s the beef?” became part of American pop culture. In 1989 Dave Thomas himself began appearing in Wendy’s commercials. Thomas had actually resigned from his day to day work at Wendy’s in 1982, but was persuaded by the company president to take a more active role, which was how he ended up in their ads. Beginning in 1989 Dave began to appear in a series of Wendy’s commercials, extolling the virtues of their products. Later ads depicted Dave in a more folksy and self deprecating manner which clicked with customers.

By the 1990s Dave had become a household name, as he had appeared in more than 800 commercials and these helped boost the popularity of Wendy’s restaurants to levels not seen since the “Where’s the beef?” commercials aired. A survey conducted by the company during the 1990s showed that 90% of Americans knew who he was. Growth and Expansion December 1995 has become a significant part of the history of Wendy’s when the company announced a merger with Tim Hortons, a fresh baked goods and coffee chain with more than 1,900 units, most of them in Canada, and on January 29, 2006 the company relocated its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio. Two years later in 2008, Wendy’s announced a merger with Triarc, the company that runs Arby’s Restaurant Group, which is the second biggest sandwich chain in the US. After Triarc bought Wendy’s, the name was changed to the Wendy’s/Arby’s Group.

Three years after the merger, Wendy’s announced that the two companies would split and the company sold its stake in the Arby chain Roark Capital Group while keeping an 18.5% stake. Today, Wendy’s is the third largest burger fast food chain in the world with more than 6,500 locations. The company currently has more than 57,000 employees with assets of more than $9.45 billion. Around 77% of its restaurants are franchised, and while most are in North America, they have franchises around the world as well. Wendy’s sets the standards for the menu, food quality and exterior store appearance, but individual owners have the freedom to choose the hours of operations, staff salary, pricing and interior decoration. Dave Thomas died of cancer on January 8, 2002 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age 69 and was buried in Union Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio. What is today one of the world’s most recognizable and successful fast food chains began as the dream of one simple man. As the history of Wendy’s shows, he was able to bring his vision to fruition, to the delight of millions of people around the world.

Wendy's Franchise Costs & Fees Wendy's Franchise Hamburgers, Fast Food Wendy's is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Dublin, Ohio and owned by the United States corporation Wendy's International, Inc. There are over 6,600 Wendy's restaurants worldwide. The chain is famous for its chili. Also, it is known for its Frosty dairy desserts, the fact that their burgers are square, its fresh and never frozen ground beef, and its making of all sandwich items to order. Unlike most fast food chains, Wendy's historically did not serve breakfast, except for stores in Puerto Rico. Wendy's tried serving breakfast in the mid-1980s, but the endeavor quickly failed. However, they have reformulated their breakfast menu recently and are now serving breakfast in many locations. Wendy's was founded by Dave Thomas in 1969 and named after his 8-year old daughter, Melinda, who had the nickname of "Wendy." The corporate headquarters is located in Dublin, Ohio.

The first Wendy's restaurant was opened in Columbus, Ohio on November 15, 1969, and grew rapidly to open over 3,000 stores by 1985. However, by the mid-1980s some Wendy's restaurants became underperforming and closed. By 1989, Dave Thomas came out of retirement and started doing commercials for Wendy's and helped rebuild the restaurant until his death. After international expansion in the 1980s, the chain retrenched in the late 1990s. In 1999 it pulled out of London and Hong Kong (its Hong Kong branch was located on Lockhart Road in Wan Chai). In 1995, Tim Hortons' popularity had spilled over to American investors; the chain's parent company, The TDL Group ("TDL" stands for the original corporate name "Tim Donut Ltd."), was acquired by Wendy's International, Inc.. As a result, Ron Joyce, Tim Horton's partner and first franchisee, was, for a time, the largest shareholder of Wendy's.

Please Note: The operators of Wendy's, may not have verified the accuracy of the Franchise information contained within this website. For accurate up-to-date information, investors are strongly recommended to visit the official Wendy's website. How much does it cost to open a Wendy's Franchise? The investment required to open a Wendy's Franchise is between $2,000,000-$3,500,000. There is an initial franchise fee of $40,000 which grants you the license to run a business under the Wendy's name. Individual Unit Costs How much does a Wendy's Franchise owner make? To calculate how much income a franchise owner can do at Wendy's Franchise, may vary on factors like location, size etc., On the other side as a business owner your goals to maintain the quality of service while streaming sales high and expenses low. As any other franchise may include rent/mortgage, staffing/family, inventory supplies, utilities, administrative costs vise vera. Location to location and seasons the months costs may vary. Most franchises start up costs are typically fixed and they will cover most of the initial operating costs like signage, furniture, decoration and renovations.

3 Other Franchises in this Family Wendy's to close original restaurant - USATODAY.com Need help financing or refinancing a home? Click here Wendy's to close original restaurant Updated 2/24/2007 6:58 AM ET E-mail | Print | COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Wendy's International Inc. said Friday that sagging sales will force it to close the restaurant where the nation's third-largest hamburger chain began in 1969. The iconic restaurant, filled with memorabilia and photographs of the late Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, will close March 2. "This is a very difficult decision, but the truth is we kept it open for sentimental reasons much longer than we should have," company spokesman Denny Lynch said. Thomas, who died in 2002 of liver cancer, opened his first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers on Nov. 15, 1969. He named the restaurant after his 8-year-old daughter, Melinda Lou, nicknamed Wendy. He later became a nationally known figure as a Wendy's pitchman in television commercials.

But the original restaurant, just a few blocks from the Ohio Statehouse, is unable to generate sufficient sales at night or during weekends, when government buildings are closed, Lynch said. The restaurant has no drive-through window, has limited parking and soon would have required substantial building improvements, Lynch said. No sales figures were released. Thomas knew before he died that his first restaurant was struggling, Lynch said. "I guarantee he would support this decision," Lynch said. "He recognized that a company needs to be profitable." Employees will be offered jobs at other locations, Lynch said. The company hasn't decided whether it will hold a closing ceremony. "It's sad to see history disappear," said Mark Barbash, the city's director of development. Wendy's owns the building and the land, and city officials hope to meet with the company to discuss redevelopment ideas. Memorabilia at the restaurant, including the dress worn by Thomas' daughter when she posed for the restaurant's logo, will be moved to the company's corporate offices in Dublin, a Columbus suburb. Wendy's operates about 6,600 restaurants in the United States and abroad. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Posted 2/24/2007 2:47 AM ET Updated 2/24/2007 6:58 AM ET Wendys Corporate Office & Headquarters | Dublin, OH 4288 West Dublin Granville Road Dublin, OH 43017 Phone: (614)764-3100 Reviews: 0 WRITE REVIEW Company Overview The Wendy's Company is the 3rd largest company for quick service hamburger in the world. The story of Wendy's Company began in 1969 when Dave Thomas opened the first of Wendy's restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. This saw a new dawn in the food industry with Wendy's developing a method of preparing fresh hamburgers on order instead of relying on the old frozen beef and mass production of food used by other restaurants. The company has expanded tremendously since its inception and currently it operates more than 6,500 company restaurants and franchises in US and in 27 other US territories and countries in the world. Wendys Map Location Wendys Reviews There are currently 0 consumer reviews about Wendys available. Share your review.

There are currently no reviews to show for this company. Be the first to add one below! Write Review Please take a note that you are about to post a public review about Wendys corporate office on CorporateOffice.com. This review will be public, so please do not post any of your personal information on this website. If you would like to contact the corporate offices of Wendys, please use their contact information such as their phone number, website, and address listed above to contact them. However, sometimes staff from Wendys headquarters do read the reviews on this website. Your Name: Dave's Legacy Dave's Legacy Dave Thomas We'll always do it Dave's way. When he was eight years old, Dave Thomas dreamed he'd run the best restaurant in the world. He didn't just achieve his dream, he shared it with everyone. Dave loved two things above all else, food and people. That's why he started Wendy's. He believed in a place where you get great food, made fresh, served by nice people. At all our restaurants we do our best to carry on that simple idea, every day. It's his legacy. Our name is Wendy's, but we will always be Dave's place.

Learn about the legacy and see how you can keep it alive. 1932 - 1944: Humble Beginnings A little boy dreams big. As a young boy, Dave and his adoptive father moved around a lot. It was a lonely life, but eating in restaurants gave him comfort and showed him what family life was really like. In his adoptive family, Dave was closest to his grandmother and cherished the time he spent with her and the lessons she taught him. Overcoming the challenges and hardships of his childhood and setting goals for his future drove him toward success. Born in 1932 Dave Thomas was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 2, 1932. Rex and Auleva Thomas adopted him when he was six weeks old. When Dave was five, Auleva died and his early years were spent moving many times from state to state in the Midwest while his adoptive father sought work. “A family can count on each other, and that’s something that can’t be bought or sold. All the small stuff is swept aside when an obstacle is faced. It brings out the best of us. That old saying is true, we’re stronger when we stand together.

I’m very grateful and proud to be part of the Thomas family.” Dave and Grandma Minnie Dave's fondest childhood memories were summers spent in Michigan with Grandma Minnie Sinclair. She taught him about doing the right things and treating people with respect, as well as important lessons about quality and service - all values he later used in his business life. Minnie taught Dave that "Hard work is good for the soul, and it keeps you from feeling sorry for yourself because you don't have time." Restaurants bring families together for Dave Dave's father Rex was an imposing figure who only had to tell you once to do something. While he didn't spend much fatherly time with Dave, they often ate together at restaurants - mainly small neighborhood cafes that made good hamburgers. For Dave, eating out was a special event. It was the one time he felt like he had his father all to himself. And Dave enjoyed watching families sitting together, sharing a meal. “In 1940, at the age of eight, I dreamed that I would one day own the best restaurant in the world. All of the customers would love my food, and all of my employees would do everything they were supposed to do.

But, most important, everyone would think I was a good boss, and everyday when I walked into the restaurant, people would be glad to see me.” Understanding customers Dining out became a passion for a Dave, and he decided he would one day own his own restaurant. He was fascinated with how restaurants served food, looked different, and promoted their specials. He observed different types of menus, how things looked and tasted, and how friendly restaurants felt. By the time Dave was nine, he was an "expert," understanding what customers expected and what kind of service and quality was acceptable. 1944 - 1968: Passion for the Business Dave worked hard and learned from mentors about the restaurant business. Starting at age 12, Dave immersed himself in the restaurant business, choosing the right mentors, committing himself to hard work, and sticking to a philosophy handed down from his grandmother never to cut corners on quality. Each day, each effort, each experience brought him closer to his dream. 1944, Dave, age 12 Frequent moving from city to city left Dave without roots or a sense of belonging. He sought refuge in work, hoping that a job would gain him respect and the money he needed to get more out of life.

At 12, he delivered groceries in Knoxville, but was fired by his boss. As a soda jerk at Walgreen's, he was fired again when his boss found out he wasn't 16. After being told he'd "never amount to anything," he vowed never to lose another job. “Don’t give up. It’s easy to throw in the towel when things aren’t going your way. Nothing good comes without hard work. Be willing to invest the time and energy to achieve your goals.” 1944, Dave's first real restaurant job Dave worked very hard at a family restaurant in Knoxville. The wartime work ethic set a standard for Dave; he thought it was just the way people were supposed to work. And the owners treated Dave like family, giving him encouragement and mentorship that had a positive and lasting effect on him. Dave learned he could be whatever he wanted to be, within the laws of God and man. 1947, Hobby House Restaurant After another move, 15-year-old Dave found work at the Hobby House Restaurant in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

He started as a busboy, then worked the fountain and went on to the front kitchen, believing that if he was going to have his own restaurant on day, he needed to know how to do every job. Owner Phil Clauss became his mentor, motivating Dave and teaching him everything about the business. “From the very beginning, I never thought of myself as anybody special. And whatever I’ve accomplished throughout my life, when I look in the mirror, I still see myself as a hamburger cook.” Dave goes out on his own When Dave's family moved yet again he stayed behind, and, at age 15, lived on his own at the YMCA. In the tenth grade, still searching for his dream, Dave even wrote an essay about it "The Pursuit of Happiness," where he outlined the path he would take toward achieving it. Except for not finishing school, which he always regretted, Dave followed his plan to the letter. Dave in the Army In the early 1950s at the age of 18, Dave joined the Army according to his plan. The Korean War was beginning. From Cook and Baker's School in Ft.

Benning, Georgia, to becoming one of the youngest soldiers to manage the Enlisted Men's Club, Dave's entrepreneurial spirit and initiative served him well. Dave served in Germany for two and a half years, working hard and gathering the knowledge and experience he would apply to building a food-service business. Dave gets to know Colonel Harland Sanders In 1953, Dave returned to his job and restaurant family at the Hobby House. A new waitress, Lorraine Buskirk, caught his eye; they married in 1954. Dave also met Colonel Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (now KFC) and one of his strongest mentors. When Phil Clauss bought a KFC franchise, Dave was in the chicken business. 1962, Dave gets into the chicken business Clauss offered Dave a chance to revive his four failing Kentucky Fried Chicken carryouts in Columbus, Ohio. Against even the Colonel's advice, Dave took the challenge and succeeded. He trimmed the menu and used creative promotions - swapping chicken for radio time and making an illuminated sign that looked like a rotating bucket of chicken. Clauss later sold the carryouts, making Dave a millionaire and launch his career in hamburgers.

“I don’t consider myself a great leader, but if I really thought about it, I’d say I’ve followed my own advice. I do what I say I’m going to do. I’ve been lucky over the years to have a great team of people to work with. I learned from my mentors that if you say you’re going to do something, do it. When people believe in you and you treat them with respect, they’ll follow you.” 1969 - 1979: Quality is Our Recipe Dave introduced America to his fresh, made-to-order, square hamburgers. When other quick-service restaurants were using frozen beef and mass-producing food, Dave developed an innovative method to prepare fresh, made-to-order hamburgers. Wendy's became known for square ground beef hamburgers that hang over the bun, made with the customer's choice of toppings. Quality and fresh food are still the focus, allowing Wendy's to quickly serve high quality and variety to millions of customers each day. 1969, Dave's dream comes true Consumed by his love of hamburgers, Dave visited every hamburger stand he could find, sharing his restaurant ideas with friend Len Immke in the steam room of the Columbus Athletic Club.

Upon finding the Club's dining room closed one day, Len said it was hard to get a good lunch downtown, and suggested Dave open his restaurant in one of Len's buildings on Broad Street. It became the home of the first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. The first Wendy's Dave's 20-plus years behind the counter and all his restaurant management experience came together when the first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers restaurant opened on November 15, 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. A capacity crowd of local dignitaries joined the first Wendy's family of employees and suppliers at the grand opening. “When I started Wendy’s in 1969, ‘Quality is Our Recipe’ was our motto. Our focus on quality hasn’t changed, and it never will. Wendy’s offers customers the highest quality food and freshest ingredients, made-to-order sandwiches, and fast, courteous service. When you like a restaurant’s food and are treated well, you’ll go back again. We have to earn our customers’ loyalty every day, and exceed their expectations on every visit.

That’s our mission and our focus and, in my opinion, that’s what generates loyal customers.” The face that started it all After trying all five of his children's names for the restaurant, Dave decided on daughter Melinda's nickname - Wendy. The first menu included hot 'n juicy hamburgers, rich 'n meaty chili, french fries, soft drinks and a Frosty Dairy Dessert. And the homey interior featured carpeting, Tiffany-style lamps, newsprint tabletops and Bentwood chairs - very innovative for the time. 1971, New Pick-up Window does more than pick up business The Wendy's Pick-Up Window concept was born in the first freestanding restaurant. The drive-up window wasn't brand new, but no one had made it work successfully. Originally designed as an add-on to the building to generate a few extra dollars in sales, it proved to be the catalyst that propelled Wendy's from a four-store Columbus chain into a foodservice phenomenon. Early restaurant design, circa 1973 In 1973, Dave began to franchise the Wendy's concept.

His idea of selling franchises for entire cities and regions, rather than single units, was an industry innovation and enabled Wendy's to open more than 1,000 restaurants in the company's first 100 months. Wendy's innovations changed the industry Under Dave's leadership, Wendy's led the industry in product innovations. In 1979, the company was the first national chain to introduce salad bars, and in 1983 Wendy's added baked potatoes to the menu. Other innovations followed, including the 99c Super Value Menu, breaded chicken sandwich, fresh carryout salads, and the spicy chicken sandwich. 1979, Dave accepts the Horatio Alger Award The restaurant industry and business community applauded Dave's innovation and success. Dave received every major industry award and was honored as a pioneer in the restaurant business. One award he was particularly proud of was being honored with the Horatio Alger Aware, presented by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. “People ask me about the secret of my success, and I tell them there’s no secret. You have to have persistence, a burning desire to succeed, and a passion for the business. These things kept me motivated and focused on what I wanted to accomplish.

It sounds simple, and it really is. I believed in my dream of opening a hamburger restaurant, and I was willing to put in the time and make the commitment to succeed.” 1989 - 2002: Folk Hero No ordinary spokesman, North America fell in love with Dave's food. The long-running Dave Thomas Campaign made Dave one of the nations most recognizable spokesmen. North Americans loved him for his down-to-earth, homey style. As interest in Dave grew, he was often asked to talk to students, businesses or the media about free enterprise, success and community service. 1989, Dave becomes the "guy on Wendy's commercials" After Wendy's marketing executives decided that no one could speak more passionately about Wendy's than Dave, in early 1989, he agreed to appear in a few television commercials. While advertising experts and critics panned the spots, consumers loved them and restaurant sales increased. Consumers agreed with Dave that "food made fresh tastes best." Dave the Celebrity Throughout the campaign, Dave appeared with many famous celebrities, including NHL star Mike Richter, Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, and soap opera star Susan Lucci.

Because of his honesty and old-fashioned values, Dave emerged from Wendy's advertising campaign as an American folk hero. 1993, Graduation Day Dave was asked to speak about his accomplishments, advising kids to "Get all the education you can." Some students challenged Dave since he was a drop out. So, 45 years after leaving school, Dave received his GED from Coconut Creek High School in Ft. Lauderdale. “One of my biggest mistakes led to one of my greatest accomplishments. I dropped out of school when I was 15, so I could work full time. That was the biggest mistake I ever made. I was ashamed to be known as a ‘drop-out.’ One day while talking to high school students about getting a good education, a student asked how I could tell them to stay in school when I dropped out. So after 45 years, I went back to school, studied for and got my GED. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it, and it’s something I’m very proud of. I was ‘adopted’ by the senior class of Coconut Creek High School near my home in Ft. Lauderdale.

They voted me Most Likely to Succeed, and elected my wife Lorraine and me Prom Queen and King.” Commercial success In 1996, the Dave Thomas Campaign reached its landmark 500th commercial, and in May 1999, celebrated its 10th anniversary, with 652 commercials December 2000 brought another honor when Guinness World Records recognized the campaign as the "Longest Running Television Advertising Campaign Starring a Company Founder." The campaign ran nearly 13 successful years, including more than 800 commercials. An early appearance on "Good Morning America" It seemed everyone was interested in Dave's life story, eager for him to share his secret of success. Dave appeared on all the major news and talk shows, including the "Today Show," "Good Morning America," "Larry King Live," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "48 Hours," and many others. “Profit is not a dirty word. We all talk about achieving our dreams and accomplishing our goals. But let’s not forget that making a profit gets us there. Profit in business means expansion, growth and opportunities. It also means you can share your profit with your management team and the community.

Profit means success, and success means sharing with others.” Dave the Author Dave shared his experiences and insight into achieving his dreams in his autobiography, Dave's Way. As he put it, "It also tells people about my mistakes and what they should avoid. It's important to learn from your mistakes and I hope people can learn from mine." Dave also published a book on success called Well Done!, and the business book Franchising for Dummies. Proceeds from all books went to Dave's adoption foundation. “Honesty and integrity are the foundation upon which every successful person stands. Dishonest people don’t make it in the long run. Throughout your life, you’ll have the opportunity to cut corners and take some short cuts. Don’t do it! If you lose your integrity, you’ve lost everything you set out to gain. Earn and appreciate the trust of the people you work with and respect. You earn your reputation by the things you do every day.

And at the end of the day, all a man has is his integrity.” 1996, Dave carries the Olympic Torch In recognition of his service to the community and his work for the cause of adoption, Dave was selected to carry the Olympic Torch during the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay before the Atlanta Games. Dave's route passed through Dublin, Ohio, home of Wendy's world headquarters. Dave's Everlasting Legacy Dave gave generously with his time, money and heart. Dave strongly believed in giving back to the communities that support the business. Throughout his life, he shared his energy, his time and his money. And while Dave's popularity helped sell hamburgers, he tried to use it to bring attention to causes and issues that were important to him. While much of his time was focused on the cause of adoption, he actively supported many other community organizations that improved the lives of children. “Everyone has a responsibility to support their community. My rule of thumb is: support the community that supports you. Find a cause that means something to you and support it with your time, energy and money. For me, that cause is adoption, but you should find something that’s important to you.

Giving back is the right thing to do.” A cause close to his heart In 1990, President George Bush asked Dave to head the White House Initiative on Adoption, Adoptions Works… for Everyone. With his background as an adoptee and his stature in the business community, Dave accepted the challenge of raising awareness for the cause. He also wanted to reduce the red tab and cost that discouraged many families from adopting. Anything for the kids In 1992, Dave established the Dave Thomas Foundation for AdoptionTM, a public not-for-profit organization that provides grants to national and regional adoption organizations for programs that raise awareness and make adoption easier and more affordable. He also traveled throughout North America to bring attention to the cause and inspire hope in thousands of children in foster care. “Every child deserves a permanent home and loving family. Having a family means there are people who care about you and who will always be there for you. Adoption is a great way to create or add to a family. There are so many children in America waiting to be adopted.” Breaking ground for children in Florida Dave supported many organizations that improved the lives of children, including the Children's Home Society of Florida, where he provided seed money to build the I.

Lorraine Thomas Home, a temporary emergency home in Ft. Lauderdale. All about education A strong believer in education, Dave established the Thomas Center at Duke University. The Center houses the Fuqua School of Business' Executive Education programs. He was a founder of the Enterprise Ambassador Program at Nova University in South Florida. The program introduces the free enterprise system to high school students through classes and a mentoring programs. Presidential appreciation Dave made several visits to Washington to urge government leaders to make adoption benefits available to federal employees, and to testify before Congress on the need for adoption tax credits. In 1996, President Clinton signed a tax credit bill into law giving adoptive parents a tax credit of $5,000 when they adopt. At the public signing, the President personally thanked Dave and acknowledged the impact he'd made on adoption across the country. “America is the greatest country in the world. Everyone has an equal chance and opportunity to succeed. You can be anything you want to be within the laws of God and man.” Adoption stamp generates awareness Dave and his Foundation partnered with the U.S. Postal Service to create and promote the Adoption Stamp.

It was unveiled in October 1999 at Rockefeller Center in New York and was available in May 2000. The colorful, 33¢ stamp has four themes: "Adopting a Child, Shaping a Life, Building a Home, Creating a World." Making children's lives better Dave's capacity to give was limitless, especially when it was for the kids. Children's Hospital in Columbus, the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University, and St. Jude Children's Cancer Research Center in Memphis, are also among the many organizations that benefited from Dave's generosity. Stay Connected Restaurant Website Wendy's Menu When Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s® restaurant in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, he opened the door to a new gold standard in quick-service food. Every day we honor his legacy by using select, premium ingredients and serving food that’s prepared fresh. In addition, Wendy’s Kids’ Meals include nutritious options we know moms care about, like our grilled chicken wrap, apple slices, low-fat milk, and water.

Through our website (wendys.com) and mobile application (My Wendy’s™), customers can search for nutritional information about specific menu items or combine items and calculate totals for their meal. At Wendy’s, we give our customers the quality they want and options they need to satisfy their family’s appetite. *Menu items may vary among Wendy's restaurant locations. Honest Kids® is a registered trademark of Honest Tea, Inc. TM & ©2016 Quality Is Our Recipe, LLC. 8 grams of fat or less 3 grams of saturated fat or less If a menu item exceeds only one of these criteria (fat, saturated fat, or calorie) by up to 10%, that item may be included on the website. Deep fried items (i.e., egg rolls, chicken fingers, tostada shells, etc.) are excluded from the website, except for very small amounts of garnishes, such as wonton strips. More about the Criteria Calories: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses 2,000 calories per day as a reference level for nutrition labeling.

Healthy Dining's upper limit of 750 calories for one meal represents about 37% of total calories for the day - reasonable, because a restaurant meal is generally the largest of the day. Most of the menu items featured on this site have significantly fewer than 750 calories. Fat: Leading health organizations recommend that total fat be limited to 20 to 35% of calories. Assuming 2,000 calories per day, the recommended fat intake for a full day is between 44 and 78 grams. The Healthy Dining fat guideline for one meal is 25 grams or fewer. Most of the menu items featured on this site have considerably fewer than 25 grams of fat. Saturated Fat: Leading health organizations recommend that saturated fat be limited to 10% of total calories. Assuming 2,000 calories per day, the maximum recommended saturated fat intake for a full day would be 22 grams. Healthy Dining's saturated fat guideline for one meal is set at 8 grams or fewer of saturated fat for the meal, again assuming the restaurant meal accounts for the largest of the day's meals.

Most of the menu items featured on this site contain significantly fewer than 8 grams of saturated fat. Are these items "healthy?" The menu items featured on this website are among the best choices (based on the criteria identified above) available at each participating restaurant for the majority of individuals looking to improve their diets. However, please note that: Daily nutritional needs vary, and it is each individual's personal responsibility to choose foods that meet his or her unique nutritional needs. Consult your physician and/or dietitian for guidance. Many of the dishes listed on this website are high in sodium, and they are, therefore, inappropriate for those individuals who want or need to limit sodium intake. Sodium values are listed, so that such individuals can make informed choices. Some dishes listed may be higher in other nutrients – such as protein, sugar, carbohydrates, or even fiber – than is appropriate for individuals with certain conditions.

The FDA has very strict criteria for any food or meal designated as "healthy."Most of the menu items featured on this site do not meet the FDA criteria for "healthy" and neither the restaurants nor Healthy Dining claims that the featured items meet the FDA's criteria for "healthy." The criteria for this website focus on calories, fat and saturated fat, whereas the FDA's criteria for "healthy"; also include cholesterol and sodium. So that a sufficient variety of items can be listed, the criteria on this site do not include cholesterol and sodium. However, values for sodium and cholesterol are posted, so that consumers can make informed choices. Close × Kids LiveWell Nutrition Criteria The National Restaurant Association is proud to introduce Kids LiveWell to assist parents and children in selecting healthful menu options when dining out. This initiative is a voluntary program through which restaurants commit to offering healthful menu items for children. The featured menu items provided meet specific nutrition criteria as recommended by leading health organizations' scientific guidelines and verified by Healthy Dining’s team of registered dietitians.

You can be sure when you select a Kids LiveWell meal, it meets the following criteria: Full Kids' Meals (entrée, side option and beverage): 600 calories or less ≤35% of calories from total fat ≤10% of calories from saturated fat <0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only) ≤35% of calories from total sugars (added and naturally occurring) ≤770 mg of sodium 2 or more food groups (see below) Side Items: ≤35% of calories from total fat ≤10% of calories from saturated fat <0.5 grams artificial trans fat ≤35% of calories from total sugars (added and naturally occurring) ≤250 mg of sodium 100% fruit, vegetables or juice; and low fat (1%) and skim milks are permitted 1 food group (see below) Fruit, Vegetables, Whole Grains, Lean Protein and Low-Fat Dairy: Full meals must include two sources, and a la carte sides must include one source of the following: Fruit: ½ cup or more = 1 star Vegetables: ½ cup or more = 1 star Whole Grains: Contains whole grains = 1 star Lean

 protein (skinless white meat poultry, fish, seafood, beef, pork, tofu, beans, eggs): At least 2 ounces meat, 1 egg equivalent, 1 oz nuts/seeds/dry bean/peas = 1 star (lean as defined by FDA) Dairy: Lower-fat dairy (1% or skim milk and dairy): ½ cup or more = 1 star (while not considered low-fat, 2% milk is allowed if included in the meal and the meal still fits the full meal criteria) Deep fried items not permitted For more information on joining the Kids LiveWell program, please call (858) 541-2049 or e-mail Erica@HealthyDiningFinder.com.

LiveWell and Kids LiveWell are service marks of the National Restaurant Association. Close

Question: The first Wendy’s restaurant was opened in 1969 in which US state?
Answer: Ohio