The Tender Story Behind Mark Waldo and Waldo's Chicken and Beer

Words by Mary Kate McGowan

Who

Who said a greasy test kitchen tucked away in a college student union is an unlikely launchpad for a full-blown chicken empire? 

Mark Waldo is the founder of Waldo's Chicken and Beer, a rapidly growing restaurant franchise with a unique partnership model and a strong commitment to serving local communities. 

What started as a humble 500-square-foot food concept called "Two Birds" in the West Virginia University (WVU) student union has evolved into a multi-state chain with 15 locations and plans for further expansion, including a forthcoming location in Nashville’s Belle Meade area.

"Standing in front of the 15th store that's open and seeing all the people who are involved now, it's very humbling and very surreal at the same time," Mark said a few months ago, just hours before opening Waldo's Bentonville, Arkansas, location. "I have to pinch myself every now and then."

Mark, originally from Birmingham, grew up in restaurants, working various restaurant jobs from a young age, such as washing dishes, bussing tables, and waiting tables. His back-and-front-of-the-house experience gave him a passion for the industry early on. But he took a detour into sales and built a company for almost a decade—until he was pulled back in. 

What 

In 2017, he was approached to bring a new chicken concept to the WVU student union. After two successful years of slinging macaroni and cheese to college students, the name changed to Waldo's Chicken and Beer, and the first stand-alone location opened in Nashville's Germantown neighborhood.

The early days were challenging. A tornado had just devastated the neighborhood, and caution tape had roped off the restaurant's parking lot. "We didn't have two customers to rub together," Mark said. 

But they didn't pack it in. "We spent a whole year basically just obsessing over everything from our tenders to our onion rings to the rotisserie to our salad mix," Mark said. They operated with the motto: "If it's not a 10 out of 10, let's make it a 10 or get it off the menu."

Focusing on the fundamentals resulted in growth. Once the neighborhood discovered Waldo's, word of mouth took off—and so did the number of Waldo's restaurants, thanks to a partnership. On the search for chicken restaurant concepts, Dino Nithianandan of Tulsa, Oklahoma, discovered Waldo's in their Germantown location. 

"We were still trying to figure out who we were going to be when we grew up, and he came and spent time with me and ate the food with me. We really hit it off," Mark said. Nithianandan, who had industry clout and experience, opened the second Waldo's location in Tulsa.

From there, the concept took off. Now with 15 locations and growing, Waldo's operates on a unique partnership model, where local owners co-own and operate each location, fostering a strong connection between the restaurant and its community. This approach allows for a more organic and genuine relationship with local charities and organizations.

"We see ourselves not just as a restaurant but as a gathering place for the community," Mark explained. "Getting outside of all four walls to support the other gathering places within our community is one of our responsibilities and one of our core values."

Why

Mark and Waldo's commitment to addressing the needs of the neighborhoods they serve started in their Germantown location. However, it became deeply personal when Mark's brother-in-law was diagnosed with a rare form of multiple myeloma, leading them to partner with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"We've always seen our restaurants and our businesses as an opportunity to add value to the community," Mark said. "We really never found anything that was just really close to home for us—until my wife's brother was diagnosed."

Waldo's has since become a dedicated partner to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, supporting their annual events and providing resources such as meeting spaces and meals for their staff and executives. "We're really looking at everything we do as true partnerships," Mark said.

Beyond the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, each Waldo's location is committed to supporting local charities and organizations in each community they serve, whether helping with food drives, supporting schools and youth programs, or hosting charity nights. Mark empowers local partners to identify and address their communities' specific needs, building long-term partnerships that make a difference.

"I'm a big believer in our local partners running their business and letting their own personalities really shine through," Mark said. "If we don't get out and support the other institutions in our community, we're not holding up our end of the deal."

Whether you visit Waldo's Chicken and Beer to support Second Harvest, the local humane society, or another worthy cause, you can expect good food, good people, and good works in every community they serve.

To find a Waldo's location close to you, visit https://waldoschicken.com/.