More than 100 people were in line when Whataburger opened its fourth location in the Upstate on Monday at 2900 N. Main St. in Anderson.
The new location will also be open 24/7, providing customers with around-the-clock access to food and beverage options.
Three months ago, Whataburger held a groundbreaking event, and now, the long-anticipated opening has finally arrived. The new establishment is expected to create numerous jobs and give residents and visitors another dining option.
Whataburger's Operations Leader, Preston Hughes, estimates the restaurant will "create over 750 new jobs in the greater Upstate area this year."
"We have already hired some amazing leaders ready to provide extraordinary hospitality around the clock," he said. Whataburger has already started recruiting team leaders and staff members.
Interested individuals can obtain more information regarding job descriptions, benefits, and salaries by clicking here: https://whataburger.com/careers .
Whataburger greeter
Anderson County native Ruth Lanier, 75, was hired as a Whataburger greeter.
"I wasn't recruited, but I signed on to work as a greeter," she said.
If you visit the North Main Street Whataburger location, you will see Ms. Ruth welcoming customers with a warm smile.
Reggie Evers, training manager, led the crew in a cheer to start the day. The energy in the building was filled with echoes and cheers as fans lined up early and were eager to be among the first to experience the latest addition to the county.
The grand opening also featured special promotions and giveaways to celebrate the occasion.
Whataburger for a year
Randall McNeill of Belton was the first to purchase a Whataburger this morning.
"I have never done something like this before," he said. "I heard about special promotions and drove by around 11 a.m. yesterday. I told myself if there's no one in line, I will stop. Nobody was here, so I pulled over. Twenty-four hours later, here we are."
McNeill was accompanied by his wife, who hung out in the car, and friend James Maloney of Six Mile, who decided to come by and keep Lozano company. "I'm excited, you know, it's going to be fun," Lozano said. "One burger a week for a year or 52 all at once."
The restaurant also gave the first four customers dining in or ordering from the drive-thru free Whataburger for a year and handed out 300 goody bags filled with Whataburger merchandise.
Joelton Ruyl, of Belton, was the first in line in the drive-through.
"I slept all night in my car," he said. "I got here around 11 p.m. It's been kind of a rough night from having trouble getting to sleep and waking up with sunburn, but I'm happy I'm getting my free Whataburger for a year."
What's on the Whataburger menu?
The Whataburger menu features a variety of options, such as chicken sandwiches, breakfast items, salads, boneless wings, and milkshakes.
If you're looking for the building, know it's the restaurant with the famous orange and white striped W logo, which stands for Whataburger.
"Bringing Whataburger to South Carolina is a dream come true for me," Whataburger President and CEO Ed Nelson said. "As a native son, I’ve always known that our state’s rich culture and warm hospitality would be the perfect match for Whataburger’s tradition of bold flavors and extraordinary service.”
Whataburger opening in Upstate
Four additional Whataburger locations are set to open across the Palmetto State before the end of 2024. Here is a list of four additional locations set to open across South Carolina in 2024.
- Fall 2024 - 202 Bridgeberry Lane, Columbia
- Fall 2024 - 1941 E Main St., Spartanburg
- Fall 2024 - 1510 W.O. Ezell Blvd., Spartanburg
- Fall 2024 - 888 S. Lake Drive, Lexington
Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Texas fast food burger chain opens its doors in Anderson County, customers win free meals
Most Popular
Comments / 0