AceShowbiz - Mark Wahlberg and his family's fast food business is expanding to Springfield, Massachusetts.

The movie star announced his new Wahlburgers restaurant venture is set to open for business at the MGM Springfield in late 2019 at a press conference on Thursday, August 23, revealing it will become a hang-out for his family.

"My mother will be here a lot," he said. "It's a perfect location for her because she doesn't like to fly. My brothers will be here a lot. I will be here a lot.

"Even though I'm out in L.A. a lot, we are not a coastal elitist company. If you look at the places where we do the best, where we connect well with people, it's in neighbourhoods. It's with families. It was hard to keep a secret. We are just so excited about Springfield. I can't believe the work they've accomplished since I was last here."

The family burger restaurant chain is also expanding into the Middle East.

The Ted star recently revealed there are already 70 restaurants "under contract" in the U.S. with "various franchisees and deals in different places", and he told The Hollywood Reporter, "I think we will have nine or 10 open by the end of the year in places like Fenway Park in Boston and airports in Philly (Philadelphia) and New York. We're opening in Coney Island, Long Island, the (Washington) D.C. area, Las Vegas - and we're looking for locations in L.A.

"We also just made a deal in the Middle East for 20 restaurants."

Hey Western Mass #WahlFamily! Can't wait to see you at @MGMSpringfield! 🍔 https://t.co/SoMCPHX9xd

— Wahlburgers (@Wahlburgers) 23 August 2018

The Wahlburgers chain has really taken off following the launch of Wahlberg's successful behind-the-scenes TV series of the same name at the beginning of 2014. The show features Mark, his chef brother Paul, their mother and various other members of the family.

The original Wahlburgers opened for business in Hingham, Massachusetts in 2011.