Hope is not lost – Whataburger could still be coming to Charlotte

Heidi Finley
·2 min read

Whataburger fans, there is new evidence that the Texas-based burger chain is on its way to Charlotte — potentially at multiple locations — although officials involved with the plans are staying quiet for now.

This week, city filings for a land development construction plan at 12809 Albemarle Road mention Whataburger in the project description, noting the proposed commercial development “comprises of a drive-thru restaurant in an outparcel of a larger development, ‘Clear Creek Crossing.’” The development is slated to be anchored with a Publix grocery store.

Late Friday, the city of Charlotte provided site development plans prepared for Whataburger by BL Companies, which handles architecture, engineering and land survey work.

Those plans show a building labeled “proposed Whataburger” at the Albemarle Road site with 2,816 square feet of space.

Anita Thomas, a new unit construction project manager for Whataburger, referred questions via email to Donna Tuttle, Whataburger’s vice president of marketing and communications. Tuttle did not return an email. However, Ana Flores of the Hahn Agency, which handles media inquiries for Whataburger, said Friday evening that the company would “be in touch ASAP.”

A voicemail message and email sent Friday to Ryan Stahl of Equinox Development, listed in city filings as the contact for the Clear Creek Crossings development were not returned.

Davis Kirby and Micah Groeber of Atlantic Retail, brokers listed on the Clear Creek Crossings plan, didn’t return voicemail messages left Friday.

A rendering showcases Whataburger’s new building prototype. Elizabeth James
A rendering showcases Whataburger’s new building prototype. Elizabeth James

In September 2022, CharlotteFive reported that permits were also filed with the city for a potential Whataburger location in a former bank branch building at 5301 South Blvd.

The property is still listed among those available at Tyvola Square on the Kimco Realty website. But it’s not uncommon for construction or renovation projects to stretch out over several years, particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Voicemail and email messages left with Lee Johnson of Kimco Realty on Friday weren’t immediately returned. An automated message for Matt Hockeborn of Kimco Realty replied that he was out of office until Sept. 10.

Whataburger has been expanding its footprint more aggressively since BDT Capital purchased the company in 2019. In South Carolina, The Post and Courier reported in June that plans for four Whataburger locations were in the works.

What about Concord, Kannapolis and Mooresville?

  • Don’t forget, it’s not THAT What-A-Burger: While we’re on the subject, we’ll note that Whataburger is not to be confused with the What-A-Burger restaurants in Concord, Kannapolis and Mooresville. They aren’t part of the Texas-based chain; they have been selling burgers in North Carolina since E.L. “Eb” Bost and C.W. Bost founded What-A-Burger in 1956.

Have we got you hungry for a burger now? Check out our Ultimate burger guide: Where to find 100+ best burgers in the Charlotte region.

Catherine Muccigrosso contributed to this article.