Exclusive: The Wahlbergs Arrive at Coney Island

Posted on June 24, 2015 by The Coney Island Blog in Entertainment // 0 Comments

@Wahlburgers

Scores of people, evidently who are fans of the Wahlberg brothers or their hamburgers were cheering and screaming outside on the corner of Stillwell and the Bowery yesterday. The Wahlberg clan held what they called the preview opening for Wahlburgers of Coney Island, at about 5pm yesterday. Donnie and Paul Wahlberg arrived early to tape scenes for the upcoming season of the A&E show, Wahlburgers. Donnie walked around the famed amusement district stopping off first at Luna Park as he was followed by the A&E camera crew.

Donnie stopped numerous times to take selfies with fans eagerly awaiting the opening of New York City’s first Wahlburgers Restaurant. We have video footage of Donnie’s arrival as well as Tom’s Coney Island owner Jimmy Kokotas inviting his new neighbors to visit his nearby restaurant. Check out the video of Donnie Wahlberg and Jimmy meeting Paul.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, they finally opened the doors to let us inside! The first floor which isn’t completed yet looks like it’s going to be the takeout area of the restaurant. There wasn’t much going on there so we hit the roof where our buddy DJ Teddy of Mc Fadden’s Citi Field fame was playing the tunes. There was plenty of seating surrounding a square bar with young ladies serving bottles of Corona and Coney Island Lager. We sampled a few of the mini Wahlburgers, both regular and vegetarian options were available. They were served with lettuce, tomato and two tater tots attached along with a tangy sauce. Not bad.

Meanwhile down on the red carpet Donnie and Paul Wahlberg along with co owner John Cestare of Big Apple Burgers were given city council citations by city council member Mark Treyger who graciously proclaimed “Having Wahlburgers in Coney Island is the right stuff!”

Donnie Wahlberg addressed the crowd saying” I’m not from Brooklyn but I’m from Brooklyn on TV, playing a police office every week on the TV show Blue Bloods.” Wahlberg, who lost his home during Super Storm Sandy told the crowd that he wants to help bring this area back. He also said that when he was a kid a very popular amusement park near where he lived called Paragon Park closed. He blamed it on a lack of investors. Paragon Park was an historic amusement park located in Nantasket Beach, Mass. The park which closed in 1984 had the all too familiar Fascination game. The park was originally called Steeplechase after the 1897 Coney Island original.

Mark Wahlberg was the last to arrive riding with an entourage of sleek black limo vans that resembled a funeral procession. Upon arriving Mark Wahlberg was greeted by our long time friend the new commander of the 60th Precinct Captain Bill Taylor.

The after party raged on late into the evening. Wahlburgers is expected to open to the public in early July.