Whataburger Finally Opens in Charlotte After Years of Anticipation

Plans for a Charlotte location have been in the works since at least 2022.

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 10: A look inside the Whataburger loca — Source: The Washington Post / Getty

Charlotte residents can now join the long lines for Whataburger as the Texas-based chain officially opens its first restaurant in the city Thursday on Albemarle Road.

Plans for a Charlotte location have been in the works since at least 2022, when zoning records surfaced for a South Boulevard site, but those efforts stalled. Approval finally came in March 2024 to move forward with the Albemarle Road restaurant, bringing the long-awaited debut to life.

Charlotte arrives late to North Carolina’s Whataburger boom. Gastonia, Hickory, and Greensboro have already welcomed locations, and Indian Land, South Carolina, opened one just across the border in August.

The Charlotte opening marks another milestone in Whataburger’s rapid regional expansion, giving the city’s burger lovers their first official taste of the popular chain without leaving town.