Wendy’s opened its first restaurant in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, founded by Dave Thomas.
Thomas named the chain after his daughter Melinda Lou Thomas, whose childhood nickname was Wendy. The first restaurant was located at 257 East Broad Street and introduced the square hamburger patties that became one of the chain’s most recognizable features.
Dave Thomas had previously worked in the restaurant industry and had been involved with the early expansion of Kentucky Fried Chicken. He used that experience when developing Wendy’s, emphasizing made-to-order food and a menu built around hamburgers, chili, and frozen desserts.
The original Columbus restaurant closed in 2007, but the site remains a major part of Wendy’s corporate history. The name does not refer to a fictional character; it came from Thomas’s daughter and her nickname.