There was a fresh buzz in West Cumberland last Friday as Wendy’s welcomed customers to its newest restaurant, marking the soft opening of the brand’s second location in the Sunshine City.

Representing an investment of J$200 million by GARA Restaurants Limited, operators of Wendy’s locally, the West Cumberland restaurant becomes Wendy’s 10th across Jamaica and second in Portmore. The opening has also created employment opportunities for 34 team members.

On its first day of service, the team welcomed customers in-store and through the drive-thru, settling into the flow of operations at the new location.

To mark the soft opening, the first few customers of the day were also presented with gift bags and meal vouchers as they experienced the new restaurant.

Wendy’s Jamaica Marketing Officer Abbion Robinson said the first day offered an encouraging start for the team.

“Seeing customers come through the doors and use the drive-thru on our first day was really encouraging for the team,” Robinson said. “There was a nice sense of curiosity around the opening, and after all the preparation that went into getting ready, it was rewarding to finally welcome customers and begin serving the community.”

She added that opening the restaurant also marks the beginning of Wendy’s relationship with the wider West Cumberland community.

“We know opening the doors is only one part of that relationship. What matters from here is how we operate, how we listen and how we engage with the people around us. Our focus is on serving the community well and building a relationship with West Cumberland that grows over time.”

The new restaurant expands Wendy’s presence in Portmore, where the brand also operates at Sovereign Village, giving customers another convenient location to enjoy their Wendy’s favourites.

Wendy’s West Cumberland is now open to customers, with an official grand opening celebration planned for a later date.