Wimpy
An American burger bar named after Popeye’s hamburger-loving friend, now a South African institution.
About Wimpy
Edward Gold opened the first Wimpy Grills in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1934, naming it after J. Wellington Wimpy, the Popeye character who would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today. In 1954 the British caterer J. Lyons licensed the name, and Wimpy Bars spread across the UK, giving many Britons an early taste of the American hamburger, served at the table.
The American chain quietly died with Gold in 1977, while abroad it peaked at around 1,500 restaurants. In Britain most Wimpy Bars were later converted into Burger Kings, and in 2007 the brand was bought by South Africa’s Famous Brands. Today South Africa is its real home, with hundreds of restaurants and burgers dressed with Famous Wimpy Relish.
More than 450 restaurants in South Africa, around 60 in the United Kingdom, and a few across Africa and the Middle East.
Burger menu
Signature burgers first. Only burgers and sandwiches, no sides.
Not affiliated with Wimpy. Trademarks and logos belong to their owners. Descriptions are my own; nutrition figures come from the chain’s published information.