[EXCLUSIVE] Whataburger Buford Bound

In August, ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively broke the news that Whataburger's metro Atlanta debut would begin in Kennesaw.  In October, we shared the news that the company also had sites in Cumming and Woodstock identified for new restaurants.  Now, we are pleased to finally be able to confirm another site the chain has in its Atlanta-area pipeline.  A new Whataburger restaurant will open in the new Fuqua Development project The Exchange at Gwinnett, along Buford Drive just off exit 115 of I-85.  The new restaurant will be situated behind the recently opened Starbucks at the project's primary entrance off Buford Drive, across from QuikTrip and Pep Boys.  

Our report in August on Whataburger's debut in metro Atlanta has become our most read of the year, making it clear that Atlantans (and perhaps a fair number of Texas transplants) are eager for the beloved chain to expand into Georgia.  

ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively reported December 17 that Raising Cane's, a Baton Rouge-based chain of chicken tender restaurants, also plans to open in Buford, but will renovate an existing Arby's near the Mall of Georgia.  

Whataburger announced the openings of two corporately owned stores in the Kansas City area in November with plans to open four more in the coming months.  At the same time, the company also announced that via franchise partner KMO Burger, which includes Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, another eight locations will open in the Kansas City area over the next two years.  KMO will reportedly open a total of 30 Whataburger restaurants in the area over the next seven years.  Whataburger also announced several locations planned for other new markets including Colorado Springs, Colorado and Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. 

We did not immediately hear back from our Whataburger contact regarding a timeline for a formal announcement of the chain's Atlanta entry but it's safe to assume that something official will come sooner rather than later.  

Have you ever been to a Whataburger?  Do you think Whataburger is worth the hype?  If Whataburger were to miraculously be able to secure an intown site, where would you most like to see them open?

Please share your thoughts below.