Regions first Whataburger opens in Opelika, Plans for Auburn location

OPELIKA, AL- A well-known fast food chain has opened their first location in the region with a new store in Opelika. The opening comes as plans for a second location in Auburn have been announced.

On Monday, July 5, 2021, Whataburger opened the doors to its first location located at 2501 Gateway Drive in Opelika. The restaurant is adjacent to the Tiger Town shopping development located near Interstate 85.

Whataburger announced plans in January to open a location in Opelika. Work began quickly on the location that was formerly an O'Charley's restaurant that closed its doors last year.

The excitement and expansion of Whataburger in the Opelika-Auburn area did not end there in April it was revealed that Whataburger was planning to construct a restaurant Auburn. The location will be located near Toomers Corner in downtown Auburn in the former Pieology building located at 101 North College Street. The 4,658 square foot building is located just feet away from the campus of Auburn University.

WhataBurger is a well-known burger chain throughout parts of the country primarily in Texas. The company finds its origins dating back to 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened his small burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. Today the chain has grown to include more than 800 restaurants stretching from Florida to Arizona.

In recent years the chain has expanded it presence in Alabama. Prior to this year the chain operated its nearest location in the city of Clanton located on Interstate 65 between Montgomery and Birmingham. However, just weeks before the opening of the Opelika location Whataburger opened a location in Montgomery. The chain now has 21 stores across the State of Alabama.

Whataburger has been on the taste buds of residents of Columbus and Phenix City for sometime and has appeared on numerous business wish lists by residents. Residents in the Auburn and Opelika area similarly wanted Whataburger in their community and started a Facebook page to track the want and progress to the Lee County area.

Whataburger joins a growing list of businesses that have recently opened their doors in the Auburn and Opelika area or are presently under construction.