Monday, March 27, 2023

[EXCLUSIVE] Whataburger Finds First ITP Location

Atlanta is getting a Whataburger! Yes, Atlanta, Atlanta, like inside the perimeter with an Atlanta address, Atlanta.  A job posting for a “Restaurant Team Leader” for a Whataburger at 2955 Cobb Parkway, Suite 910 (Akers Mill Square) was recently posted to the Whataburger website.  A company representative confirmed to ToNeTo Atlanta that a new Whataburger will open there “by year-end” but offered no further details.  

The location was most recently Joella’s Hot Chicken, which closed this past January.  Before Joella’s, the space existed as a Pollo Tropical restaurant.  

The new Whataburger would be less than two miles from Truist Park and likely popular for either a pre or post game meal given the restaurant's wide menu and extended hours with most locations open 24/7.  

In addition to the Atlanta location, a separate job posting for "Operating Partner" indicates Whataburger will also open a second Kennesaw restaurant in a former Joella's at 840 Ernest W Barrett Parkway (outparcel of Cobb Place shopping center).  A company representative told ToNeTo Atlanta this location is also slated to open "by year-end."  The second Kennesaw location is one exit south and about three miles away from where Whataburger made their Atlanta area debut this past November at 704 Townpark Lane.  

Given the relative newness of the buildings, Whataburger will likely make use of the existing restaurants and renovate them to suit their needs.  This effort would not only save the company money, but should also lessen the time spent getting the restaurants ready for business. 

ToNeTo Atlanta publishing partner The City Menus reported March 20 Whataburger is also taking over a former Joella's on Bullsboro Drive in Newnan.  A single Joella's, just off Highway 92 in Woodstock, also in a former Pollo Tropical, remains in business in metro Atlanta.  

Liquidation firm RestaurantEquipment.bid earlier this month held online auctions to liquidate furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) from the three local Joella's, likely paving the way for Whataburger to move forward with their own plans.  

Although Whataburger's Atlanta area restaurants have thus far all been "ground up" construction, the company has experience in converting former restaurants.  The company previously retrofitted a former Hardee’s in Leeds, Alabama which it re-opened as a Whataburger in 2021.   

When asked of the potential conversion and opening schedule in Atlanta, a company representative said, “We don’t have any additional details to share aside from being able to confirm the restaurants are in the works,” but promised “more [details] soon”.  

Whataburger has in their recent Atlanta area openings opened their drive-thru first, then a few weeks later opened their dining room too.  This pattern will likely continue to occur as the chain expands locally.

The company has said it plans to add ten more locations to Georgia in 2023, including those planned for Cumming, Monroe, Covington, Athens, Snellville and Dawsonville.  The San Antonio-based chain has Texas-sized aspirations of having 50 new Whataburger restaurants opening in Georgia by 2030.

In addition to Whataburger, Akers Mill Square and nearby Cumberland Festival will soon welcome several new eateries to the area. 

KPot, a Korean barbecue and hot pot concept, is slated to open soon in the former Chuy's at Akers Mill Square.  The new restaurant joins an existing location at Howell Mill Square in Atlanta and will be followed by additional Atlanta area locations in Tucker, Kennesaw, Lawrenceville as well as units planned for Columbus and Savannah.  

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, is also opening in Akers Mill Square soon where it is replacing Corner Bakery which closed this past July.  The new Snooze will be the fourth in metro Atlanta for the Denver-based chain. In addition to the existing locations in Sandy Springs, West Midtown and Midtown, other upcoming Atlanta area location include Alpharetta, Buford, and Dunwoody.  

Original ChopShop, which made its Atlanta area debut this past November in south Buckhead, will later this summer open its second Atlanta outpost when it debuts at Cumberand Festival.  The new restaurant replaces Schlotzsky's and will later be followed by a third ChopShop in Alpharetta, where it will join the upcoming Snooze and recently opened Lazy Dog, among other tenants.  

Are you excited for the opening of Whataburger in Atlanta?  Have you visited one of the recently opened Atlanta area Whataburger restaurants?  Where else in metro Atlanta would you like to see Whataburger open?

Please share your thoughts below  

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Listen, as a native Texan living South of Atlanta. Imma need yall to come down here to Hampton, by the Speedway or if that's too country can yall come to Peachtree City.

Anonymous said...

Glad to see Akers Mill getting some attention. It went through a very grim survival phase not too many years ago. Used to do conventions at the Galleria and Akers Mill was barely better than the dead Galleria "mall" downstairs. I suppose the new stadium has helped.

Anonymous said...

Akers Mill owners have done a pretty damn good job reinventing and backfilling that center. They've had a lot of businesses go under, including several big boxes, yet have been able to replace all of them. I guess Grub, or whatever they call themselves now, didn't get a burger exclusive in that center!

I'm looking forward to giving Whataburger a try, but not until the dining room opens. I just don't do drive throughs.

Anonymous said...

Cohutta! Shady Dale! Smiths Crossroads!

Anonymous said...

there is an abandoned burger king in dunwoody village that could be the next whataburger

Anonymous said...

Whataburger needs to come to Northeast Arkansas

Anonymous said...

Not excited at all. Since WB was bought out and began expansion, quality has fallen completely off the chart. I'll take mine in Corpus or SA but out east, just hasn't faired well.

Anonymous said...

Surprised that the Whataburger groupies have not appeared here in droves.

Anonymous said...

Why, oh why, do people care so much about fast food?

Anonymous said...

That would have been a great location for a plant-based steakhouse.

Anonymous said...

Who would put any eatery in a friggin ghettofied area??? If the $&!((:7 dont getchya, the tainted food will.

Anonymous said...

Totes!

Anonymous said...

I was thinking more of a vegan restaurant with some meat-based vegetables. What fun!

Anonymous said...

“Totes” yes, a Totes store to get umbrellas would also be nice, I guess.

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous Dunwoody BK commenter: without a drive thru its a no go.

Anonymous said...

Love some Whataburger !

Anonymous said...

it has a drive thru

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...