GARA Restaurants Limited, operators of the local franchise of fast food enterprise Wendy’s, has shelled out $200 million to establish its newest restaurant in West Cumberland, Portmore, St Catherine.

This is the 10th restaurant in Jamaica from Wendy’s and it’s second in Portmore. The opening has also created employment opportunities for 34 Jamaicans.

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

To mark the soft opening, the first few customers of the day were 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.

“Seeing customers come through the doors and use the drive-through on our first day was really encouraging for the team,” Robinson said in a media release.

Members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade were among the opening-day visitors to Wendy’s West Cumberland. The group also received Wendy’s meal vouchers during their visit.

“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,” said Robinson.

According to Robinson, 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 favourites.

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