Hy-Vee wasn't looking to open a chain of gourmet hamburger restaurants, said Randy Edeker, CEO of the West Des Moines-based grocery chain.

But that was before Mark Wahlberg came to town.

Hy-Vee will open its second Wahlburgers restaurant Tuesday at the Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines. It plans to open 26 restaurants over the next five years.

So how did Wahlberg sell Hy-Vee on the concept?

NOW OPEN:Wahlburgers ready to serve up burgers, frappes and sweet potato tots in Iowa

"He saw the Market Grille and asked to meet with me upstairs," Edeker recalled. "He said 'Randy, you've got to be building Walhburgers restaurants."

The actor already had a relationship with the Iowa grocery chain. Wahlberg made his pitch last year while in Des Moines to help open Hy-Vee's downtown store and promote his Performance Inspired nutritional supplements sold exclusively by Hy-Vee in eight Midwest states.

More coverage of Hy-Vee's partnership with the Wahlbergs

But Edeker wasn't truly sold until he visited a Wahlburgers restaurant in Orlando while in Florida for an industry conference.

"I had what I always now have: barbecue bacon cheeseburger, hold the jalapenos, and a side of tater tots," he said.

He sent a few of his staff to Detroit to further vet the business.

"It's a good mix of celebrity with a fun atmosphere and good burgers," he said.

He agreed to the franchise deal because "it made sense to pull the burgers into our stores" by also serving them in the Market Grilles, he said. "We also wanted exclusivity in the state where we operate and 26 stores is where we landed."

To celebrate the opening Tuesday, Wahlburgers will offer free meals to local first responders in recognition of the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Wahlberg brothers will be in West Des Moines on Sept. 22 for grand opening events at the new restaurant.