Hy-Vee announces it will close its remaining in-store Wahlburgers and convert them back to Market Grille restaurants.

The Midwestern grocery chain will transition its in-store restaurants back to its own Market Grille concept, erasing a huge chunk of the

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee and Wahlburgers have partnered for years, and in 2020, the grocery store company began replacing Market Grilles with the burger restaurants. Even though it had converted only about one-third of its 229 Market Grille locations, Hy-Vee was still the largest single Wahlburgers franchisee.

Post-transition, Hy-Vee will operate 221 Market Grille and Market Grille Express locations across its grocery stores. This isn’t the first time the Midwestern grocer has refreshed its in-store restaurant concepts.

Wahlburgers, a casual dining burger restaurant chain, will be replaced by Market Grille at Hy-Vee locations across the Midwest beginning this week.

Hy-Vee is closing its 79 in-store Wahlburgers and replacing them with its Market Grille brand. Why it matters: The split signals the Iowa-based grocery chain's commitment to offering more selection via its own in-store food service,