It’s been many years since Whataburger could only be found within the Lone Star State, much to the chagrin of Texas burger lovers. The iconic orange W, which is now honoring its A-frame roots, has expanded across the country and set its sights on the “nicest” town in America: North Carolina.
Whataburger opened its first North Carolina restaurant in Gastonia in May 2025 and has already opened 16 total stores in the East Coast state. The majority of those burger joints have been in central North Carolina, around Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro, but never in the western part of the state, until now.
A pair of permits filed with the City of Asheville show Whataburger is planning to take over a former Popeye’s restaurant to open its first location in the popular tourist town. The permits, submitted on Monday, May 18, call for a complete conversion of the former Popeye’s at 275 Smokey Park Highway, Unit 400, Asheville, NC 28806 into a Whataburger, including exterior painting and an interior remodel. The permits are currently being reviewed by city staff but no construction timeline was included.
MySA has reached out to Whataburger for comment on the expansion.
Asheville has remained a popular tourist destination, despite damages suffered from Hurricane Helene in 2024, thanks to places like the Biltmore Estate, the River Arts District, Grove Park Inn and Spa (which once housed F. Scott Fitzgerald) and filming locations for The Hunger Games. Southern Living ranked it the No. 3 best city in the South and Reader’s Digest named it the “nicest town in America.”