Emerging
Jun 22, 20261
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Wonder Dining Chain Opens First Upstate Location in Glenville This Fall
Wonder, a fast-growing restaurant chain featuring over 500 menu items from approximately 30 chef-led brands, is opening its first upstate New York location in Glenville in late September 2026. Founded by entrepreneur Marc Lore, the company has rapidly expanded from a food-delivery startup to operating roughly 130 physical restaurants across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Quick Facts
Who
Marc Lore
What
Wonder opening new restaurant location
When
2014 (jet.com founded)
Where
Glenville, New York
- Wonder opening new restaurant location
- Acquisition of Grubhub
- Drone delivery launch
- ChatGPT integration into Grubhub
- Expansion from food-delivery to brick-and-mortar locations
Wonder, a rapidly expanding restaurant chain featuring more than 500 menu items from approximately 30 brands, is opening its first upstate location in Glenville this fall. The new restaurant will occupy a former Applebee's location on Saratoga Road/Route 50, with an expected opening in late September. The location represents Wonder's continued aggressive expansion across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
The Glenville Wonder will showcase cuisine from prominent celebrity chefs including Bobby Flay, Jose Andres, Michael Symon, Marcus Samuelsson, and Jonathan Waxman. Exclusive Wonder offerings include Bobby Flay Steak, Jota (Spanish-themed cuisine by Andres), Chios Taverna and Yasas (Greek and Mediterranean concepts by Symon), Streetbird (Harlem fried chicken by Samuelsson), and Walnut Lane (rustic California cuisine by Waxman). Some featured restaurants also maintain their own standalone locations.
Wonder was founded by serial entrepreneur Marc Lore, who previously created the e-commerce platform jet.com in 2014 and sold it to Walmart for $3 billion two years later. Originally launched in 2018 as a food-delivery startup, Wonder has dramatically accelerated its brick-and-mortar expansion since 2023. The company currently operates approximately 130 restaurants across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with roughly two dozen additional locations scheduled to open over the summer.
The company has made significant strategic moves in recent months, acquiring the ordering app Grubhub to integrate restaurant partners into the Wonder app, launching drone delivery service in New Jersey in March 2026, and announcing a partnership to incorporate ChatGPT into Grubhub ordering. Most Wonder locations operate from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily, though specific hours and employment numbers for the Glenville location have not yet been determined.
Why This Matters
Wonder's expansion into upstate New York signals the maturation of a hybrid restaurant model that blends celebrity chef brands with delivery and technology integration. For consumers, this represents unprecedented access to multiple premium dining concepts under one roof; for the restaurant industry, it demonstrates how digital platforms and logistics innovation (drone delivery, ChatGPT ordering) are reshaping restaurant economics and consumer convenience in underserved markets.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2014
WireMarc Lore founds e-commerce platform jet.com
Jan 1, 2016
WireJet.com sold to Walmart for $3 billion
Jan 1, 2018
WireWonder launched as food-delivery startup
Jan 1, 2021
WireMarc Lore departs Walmart e-commerce role
Jan 1, 2023
WireWonder begins opening brick-and-mortar locations
Jun 22, 2026
WireAnnouncement of Wonder location opening in Glenville