'Wednesday' experience at Wendy’s drive-thru draws eight-hour crowd
The exterior of the Norwalk Wendy's restaurant was decorated for the Netflix’s Wednesday takeover event on Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Photo by Vince Medina)
Hundreds of people waited over eight hours in a mile-long line at the Norwalk Wendy’s drive-thru to experience Netflix’s Wednesday takeover event on Thursday, July 31.
The event lasted between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. at the Wendy’s drive-thru at 12138 Imperial Hwy. The restaurant operated as a drive-thru only during the day.
The exclusive event was the national debut of the “Meal of Misfortune” promotional meal available at Wendy’s on Monday, Aug. 4, according to a press release from Wendy’s.
“Wendy’s® x Wednesday™ Meal of Misfortune is available in restaurants nationwide beginning Monday, Aug. 4,”according to representatives from Wendy’s. “The meal centers on the ‘Dips of Dread,’ four inferno-inspired mystery sauces, along with ‘Rest in 10-Piece’ Nuggets, small ‘Cursed & Crispy’ Fries and a small ‘Raven’s Blood’ Frosty®, all served in custom packaging only Wednesday could have devised*.”
When customers received their bags of food through the drive-through window, a message on the bag read, “There is nothing happy about this meal.”
Two mystery dipping sauces are available in each meal, including “You Can’t Hyde,” “This Will Sting,” “Grave Mistake”and “Nowhere to Woe.”
The event also centered around the four dipping sauces, with names inspired by the Netflix series. A large tunnel was constructed around the Wendy’s drive-through with four sections, each dedicated to one of the mystery dipping sauces.
“You Can’t Hyde,” is named after the villain of Wednesday season one, the “Hyde.” The monster is captured at the end of the season, but recent trailers have shown he will make a return in season two. This portion of the tunnel was designed to look like the prison that the “Hyde” appears to be kept in during the trailer for Wednesday season two.
“This Will Sting,” is a reference to the bees that Wednesday’s friend, Eugene, looks after. In the tunnel, it is set to look like a honeybee farm with beehives on either side and the sound of bees playing through the speakers.
“Grave Mistake,” is a nod to the morbid and dark humor of the show. During Wednesday season one, there are multiple moments where humor is centered around death, and so this portion of the tunnel is displayed to look like a graveyard. Customers who are fans of the show could also see the gravestone of Wednesday's pet scorpion, who is seen to have died in a flashback during season one episode one.
“Nowhere to Woe,” Is named after the nursery rhyme that, in the show, Wednesday’s mother, Morticia, said she named her daughter after: “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” This portion of the tunnel is meant to look like the principal’s office from Nevermore Academy, the school where Wednesday is sent during the show. Customers will drive through the large mouth of the principal’s fireplace before continuing to receive their meal.
Valentina Chavez, 6, stains outside Wendy's Netflix’s Wednesday takeover event at the Wendy's restaurant in Norwalk on Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Photo by Vince Medina)
When customers received their meal, the drive-through window was set up to look like the door where bodies are kept in a morgue.
“Wendy’s and Wednesday are both cultural icons famous for challenging convention with wit and a bit of sass,” wrote Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. Chief Marketing Officer of The Wendy’s Company, in a press release. “This isn’t a typical collaboration, because not just any brand could scheme up a Meal of Misfortune with Wednesday Addams. But for a brand that’s proudly customer-obsessed and unapologetically bold, it was a match made in dark, dry-witted heaven.”
According to the press statement, Wednesday Addams also gave a statement for the fast-food company.
“Normally I’d be against this kind of capitalistic corporate synergy,” wrote Wednesday Addams, Nevermore Academy student, in the press release. “But when the fast-food-slinging pigtailed provocateur said I could do whatever I wanted to her customers, I couldn’t resist.”
The line for the event was eight hours long and stretched for over a mile. Customers would get in line north of the corner of Norwalk Boulevard and Imperial Highway, in front of the Chevron gas station.
Security officers were placed at intersections to prevent customers from cutting in line.
The line continued down Norwalk Boulevard and turned right along Adoree Street until reaching Imperial Highway again. The line turned right to proceed along Imperial Highway until reaching the Wendy’s restaurant.
The City of Norwalk released a statement advising caution for commuters driving along the busy street. However, city officials clarified they were in full support of the event.
“We’re always excited to see Norwalk businesses take center stage in national campaigns,” wrote Norwalk Mayor Tony Ayala in the press statement. “Whether you’re braving the Dips of Dread or chasing a Raven’s Blood Frosty, we want everyone to enjoy the moment safely. Follow traffic signs, be patient in the drive-thru, and let the only misfortune be in the mystery sauce – not on the road.”
The exterior of the drive-thru attracted attention from fans of the show and fans of the Addams family as well. The billboard of Wendy’s outside the restaurant was replaced with an image of Wednesday with a message that read “Misfortunate awaits, Lucky you.”
Marcella Ramos brought her six-year-old daughter, Valentina Chavez, to the drive-thru. They arrived at 9 a.m. to get a spot in line and waited two hours to receive their meal. Despite the content of the show, a large portion of the customers and fans were younger people.
“We are such big fans of the show,” said Ramos. “I wasn’t concerned about the show being mature or dark because I used it as an example to help teach my daughter right from wrong.”
Ramos also said it was important to see Latina representation in Netflix’s Wednesday. While the character Wednesday has been performed by multiple actresses, Jenna Ortega is the first Latina actress to portray the character.
Ortega’s casting also marked the first time Wednesday has been accurately played by a Latine actor, as the character is canonically Latine.
Lauren Olmos, who brought her five-year-old son, Luz Garcia, and eight-year-old daughter, Fox Garcia, also said it was refreshing to see accurate casting.
“It’s so good to see (Wednesday’s) representation in the media,” said Olmos.
“(Wednesday’s) father’s name is ‘Gomez Addams’ so she has always been Latina and I think it’s good for my kids to see that representation.”