Food Delivery Company Touting Dishes by Bobby Flay is Coming to Rhode Island
GoLocalProv Business Team and News Editor Kate Nagle
Food Delivery Company Touting Dishes by Bobby Flay is Coming to Rhode Island
“Wonder” — which touts “multiple award-winning restaurants in one delivery” — is slated to open in East Providence this September, within a Cumberland Farms.
The chain currently has locations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and according to the company, is planning on a massive expansion.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRhode Island will be its first foray into New England.
"Delivery-centric food hall concept Wonder has raised $700 million to help scale its ambitious business model," wrote Restaurant Business Online in March. "The fundraise, announced by founder and CEO Marc Lore, includes $100 million from Lore himself as well as contributions from new and existing investors. Wonder has now raised $1.5 billion in equity to date."
“How it works,” writes Wonder of their business model. “We partner with award-winning chefs and restaurants…from Michelin-star spots to hidden gems, our team of experts select the country’s best version of your favorite cuisines. Then our chef partners teach us how to replicate their dishes.”
Their food offerings include pizza, BBQ, Indian, Italian, and more.
GoLocal reached out to Wonder this week about their decision to come to Rhode Island, and their public relations representative, Emma Rowland, provided some more information.
"Wonder’s first Rhode Island location will open this fall at 125 Newport Avenue, within Cumberland Farms. Wonder currently operates 15 locations throughout the Northeast, growing to 35 by end of year, and is excited to serve the Rhode Island community for the first time," said Rowland.
"Wonder, a new kind of food hall, operates a collection of delivery-first restaurants, pioneering a new category of 'Fast Fine' dining. Each Wonder location features a curated selection of the best of the country. The Newport Avenue location will offer Wonder's unique feature of Multi-Restaurant Ordering, a first in the industry where customers can enjoy a variety of restaurants in a single order, with each item made to order," she continued. "The Newport Avenue restaurant offerings will debut this fall, with features including seamless order tracking and personalized recommendations based on user preferences."
On Wonder's website, creations from celebrity chefs, including Bobby Flay and José Andrés, are prominently featured as being available at certain locations at the highest price points.
However, they were not mentioned as part of the Rhode Island location.
"Wonder's mission is to make great food more accessible (widely available, convenient and a great value) and deliver an elevated, curated dining experience every time. With Wonder, 'What should we eat for dinner?' is no longer a contentious question but rather an opportunity for each individual to order exactly what they want," said Rowland.
"Restaurants in our first Rhode Island location will include some of the most popular on Wonder’s platform and several from acclaimed chefs from around the country: Tejas Barbecue (BBQ), Fred’s Meat & Bread (Sandwiches and Burgers), Limesalt (Mexican), Streetbird by Marcus Samuelsson (Fried Chicken), Yasas by Michael Symon (Mediterranean), and more."
More About Concept
“With an emphasis on restaurant delivery and takeout, Wonder, from entrepreneur and former president of Walmart e-commerce Marc Lore, opened its first locations in 2023 and has already rolled out 12 in all, six in New York City, five in New Jersey, and one in Pennsylvania,” wrote food critic Robert Sietsema in Eater in May 2024 in, “Are the Dishes Any Good at the Fastest-Growing Food Delivery in New York?”
“It’s the first of 100 expected to open by 2025," Sietsema continued. "After spending $60 million on recipes and restaurant concepts from partner chefs, including Marcus Samuelsson and José Andrés, it describes itself as 'a new kind of food hall — iconic chefs and top restaurants.'"
Sietsema, who has had 30 years of experience as a restaurant critic, 20 of those at the Village Voice, before the last 10 at Eater New York, wrote in the article of his experience ordering from Tejas, Yasas, and more.
According to Rowland, the planned Rhode Island location within Cumberland Farms is relatively unique for their business model.
"Most of Wonder's locations are standalone storefronts. There are currently two locations within Walmart," Rowland told GoLocal.