Webdave thomas may have been our founder, but wendy thomas has been the face of the wendy’s® brand for all 50 years. Read her story and history with her dad. Webwendy's founder dave thomas tried all five of his children's names before he settled on his daughter melinda's nickname, wendy.

Webthomas wanted to name the restaurant after one of his five children and turn it into a family business. Webwendy's was founded by dave thomas columbus, ohio, in 1969. When it came to deciding what to call the chain, he tried out the names of all five of his children. Webwhy wendy's founder dave thomas regretted naming the hamburger chain after his daughter. Webafter complaining that he couldn't find a good hamburger in columbus, ohio, dave thomas opened his own restaurant on november 15, 1969: Webthe founder of wendy's regretted naming the popular hamburger chain after his daughter.

Webafter complaining that he couldn't find a good hamburger in columbus, ohio, dave thomas opened his own restaurant on november 15, 1969: Webthe founder of wendy's regretted naming the popular hamburger chain after his daughter.