Downtown in Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Site of First Wendy's Restaurant

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 16, 2008

1. Site of First Wendy's Restaurant Marker

Inscription.
Dave Thomas realized his boyhood dream when he opened his first hamburger restaurant on this site on November 15, 1969. Thomas changed the image of fast food by serving fresh, not frozen hamburgers, hot off the grill with a choice of toppings in a clean comfortable setting. From this location, Wendy's became one of the largest restaurant chains in the world. It all began with Thomas's guiding principle “Quality is Our Recipe” and his dream of serving a “hot 'n juicy” hamburger.

Erected 2007 by Wendy's International and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 104-25.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 15, 1969.

Location. 39° 57.771′ N, 82° 59.639′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Broad Street (U.S. 40) and 5th Street, on the right when traveling east on Broad Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Columbus OH 43215, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Discovery Park (a few steps from this marker); St. Joseph Cathedral (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct

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line); Starling Medical College and St. Francis Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); Trinity Episcopal Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Breathing Association (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Underground Railroad / Black Conductors of Columbus (approx. ¼ mile away); Columbus Main Library / Judge Noah Swayne Home (approx. ¼ mile away); Washington Gladden (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Also see . . .
1. The Wendy's Story. Wendy's website entry (Submitted on December 22, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. Wendy’s to close its original restaurant. NBC News website entry (2007) (Submitted on June 29, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 16, 2008

2. Site of First Wendy's Restaurant Marker

Looking east along Broad Street. Former Wendy's location in background.

The First Wendy's Restaurant - then image. Click for full size.

via Columbus Landmarks, unknown

3. The First Wendy's Restaurant - then

Wendy's First Restaurant - Closed March 2, 2007 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., December 16, 2008

4. Wendy's First Restaurant - Closed March 2, 2007

Site of First Wendy's Restaurant image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., June 12, 2010

5. Site of First Wendy's Restaurant

Building renovated to house the Catholic Foundation.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 6,588 times since then and 368 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 16, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on June 29, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on December 16, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on September 8, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.