Growing with the Community: Wendy’s Expands While Earning Local Support For the team behind the three local Wendy’s restaurants in St. Thomas and Aylmer, being selected as St. Thomas’ Favourite Take-Out in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Poll is more than just an award; it’s a reflection of the support they’ve built within the communities they serve. Co-owner Marcy Pearse said learning about the recognition brought a wave of emotions. “I had many emotions, happy, excited, and honoured,” said Marcy. While the award celebrates the restaurant brand, Marcy was quick to point out who she believes truly earned the recognition. “Big, big shout out to the staff, as they are the foundation of this award,” she said. “We cannot be this successful without the hard work, dedication, and commitment to the brand.” That commitment has helped fuel tremendous growth for the business over the past year. What began as one busy location at 1063 Talbot St. in St. Thomas has now expanded to include a second St. Thomas restaurant at 400 Highbury Ave., as well as a third location at 555 John St. N. in Aylmer. According to Marcy, the expansion became necessary as demand continued to grow. “Talbot St. was busting at the seams,” she laughed. “We would have 22 people working on one shift. We were at max capacity with cooking equipment.” As St. Thomas continues to expand, the ownership team recognized the need to grow alongside the community while continuing to provide the level of service customers had come
to expect. The rapid expansion also came with challenges. Originally, the plan had not been to open three locations in such a short timeframe. “We went from one to three in a month,” explained Marcy. “We opened Highbury December 15, trying to open before the holidays, and Aylmer January 26. Training staff for three stores in one location was tough, but we made it work.” Finding the right locations also took careful planning. Marcy explained the team had originally hoped to build on the south side of St. Thomas before eventually settling on the Highbury Avenue site. Meanwhile, Aylmer had been on their radar for some time. “We have a lot of regular customers coming to Wendy’s in St. Thomas,” she said. “With Aylmer expanding as well, we thought it was the right decision to build in their community.” Despite the growth, maintaining consistency remains a major focus for the team. “As a customer, you should be able to go to Wendy’s in Aylmer and receive the same service, quality, cleanliness and accuracy as you would at Talbot St.,” said Marcy. “We are all about brand image and the customer experience.” At the heart of it all, Marcy says it’s still the people who keep her motivated. “The customers and the staff,” she said. “I have made many great relationships with customers and staff. Very proud of the team. They are an amazing group of people.”
Well… This Is BACON US BLUSH To everyone who voted Wendy’s Favourite Take-Out, thank you for your support and your appetite.
BACONATOR ®
Hometown St. Thomas • June 2026 • Page 55
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