Whataburger now open

MADISON — City officials held a ribbon cutting Monday morning, welcoming a brand new Whataburger to Grandview Boulevard.

The restaurant opened on Monday, Dec. 9, at 11 a.m. 

Matt Smith, with the city of Madison said the grand opening “went well.” 

People he talked to said they were excited to have the restaurant in Madison.

“I know a lot of people are excited they are open and now won’t have to travel as far to get Whataburger,” Smith said.

This is the second location for the Texas-based burger chain in Madison County. Currently, there is one in Ridgeland on County Line Road.

Hungry patrons lined up outside the building Monday morning. The first three guests received a Whataburger for a year gift box that included exclusive Whataburger gear and 52 free Whataburger gift cards. The first 100 customers received free Whataburger gift bags with branded items and coupons.

The building features all-white signage and foregoes the brand's trademark orange. Specifically, developer Bridgeforth Rutledge said that Whataburger has worked on the parking lot and doubled the size of the building’s kitchen.

“They are prepared to be a high-volume, high-capacity restaurant,” Rutledge said. “Which I think they can do.”

The new restaurant’s lease at 1863 Main Street started in March, roughly a year after the previous tenant, Backyard Burger, closed in March of 2023.

Whataburger was founded in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950. They serve made-to-order burgers, fries, and chicken sandwiches, among other things, including breakfast.

They are now headquartered in San Antonio and have more than 1,000 restaurants in 15 states.

Rutledge said the new restaurant here has managers in place, and information about job opportunities is available at whataburger.com.