Whataburger is set to open its first location in the Midlands of South Carolina on Monday at 11 a.m. This highly anticipated opening follows rumors that began circulating in 2022. The restaurant, located at 1185 Dutch Fork Road in Irmo, is near the Ballentine Family YMCA and several other fast-food establishments.
To celebrate the grand opening, the first four customers in line will receive a gift basket and free food for a year.
Additionally, 200 other guests will receive gift packs that include Whataburger cooling towels, sunglasses, lanyards, to-go menus, and keychains.
Whataburger, a Texas-based chain, is not to be confused with the locally owned What-A-Burger. The company has been expanding rapidly in South Carolina, with recent openings in Greenville, Anderson, Boiling Springs, and Mauldin. The new restaurant in Irmo will be the fourth Whataburger in the state, and the company plans to open additional locations soon, including one at 202 Bridgeberry Lane northeast of downtown Columbia this fall.
Since July, Whataburger has opened new locations every two weeks, attracting large crowds that have required law enforcement and private security to manage traffic. Future openings include restaurants in Spartanburg and Lexington, with more planned for 2025 in Easley and Duncan.
Whataburger President and CEO Ed Nelson, a South Carolina native, expressed his excitement about the brand’s expansion into his home state. “Our state’s rich culture and warm hospitality are a perfect match for Whataburger’s tradition of bold flavors and extraordinary service,” he said.
Founded in 1950, Whataburger now operates over 1,030 locations across 16 states, marking its entry into South Carolina as a significant milestone for the company.