Whataburger Is Coming To Cobb County

COBB COUNTY, GA — The wait for Whataburger is almost over.

The legendary Texas fast food chain is expected to open its first location in metro Atlanta in Cobb County, and is considering opening dozens of other locations in the metro over the next few years — including in Loganville, Buford, Snellville, Cumming and Peachtree City, Patch previously reported.

Planning documents reviewed by Tomorrow's News Today Atlanta (ToNeTo ATL) show that Whataburger will open the Cobb location at 705 Townpark Lane in the former O'Charley's restaurant in Kennesaw. O'Charley's closed temporarily last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but never reopened.

Whataburger officials plan to demolish the 6,809-square-foot space and construct a new 4,600-square-foot restaurant, ToNeTo ATL reported. The Kennesaw site is going through the planning and permitting process, and should be open in 2022 barring any delays or problems.

The quintessentially Texas burger joint inspires tremendous loyalty among its fans — so much so that there's even a Bring Whataburger to Atlanta Facebook page. There's even a Whatastore full of merchandise, including Whata-themed Yeti tumbler, James Avery Whataburger charms, T-shirts and more.

Whataburger has more than 840 locations, most of them in Texas. Only one Whataburger — a Thomasville location that debuted in 2005 — is open in Georgia as of publication. Whataburgers in Valdosta and Brunswick opened and have since closed.

Related: Whataburger Considers Expansion Into Georgia, Metro Atlanta