Food hall app Wonder opening 9 Mass. restaurants

Driving the news: The company is opening three restaurants west of Boston Thursday:

• 219 N. Main St. in Natick
• 493 Trapelo Road in Belmont
• 571 Worcester Road in Framingham

Another six are on the way, with each location hiring an estimated 35 employees, per the company.

How it works: The restaurants offer a range of items akin to a food hall, with options ranging from New York-based Di Fara Pizza to menus by star chefs Bobby Flay and José Andrés.

• Their online platform offers those same options for pickup or delivery, letting users mix and match meals from different menus.

Context: The company, launched by former Walmart executive Marc Lore in 2018, wants to become the "super app for mealtime."

• Wonder has raised nearly $1 billion since 2024 and acquired big names like Blue Apron, GrubHub and, most recently, Manhattan-based Blue Ribbon Restaurant Chicken.
• In the past year, it's opened locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

What's next: Wonder plans to open locations in Acton and Medford on March 5, followed by locations in Newton, Watertown and Canton on March 19.

• A Burlington location is expected to open later this spring.