We’re so ready to build our big burger, drip thin-cut fries into fancy ketchup, and sit back and enjoy a hot butter chicken biscuit or two.
Unfortunately, it’s going to be a couple of months before Whataburger makes its highly anticipated Southwest Florida debut.
But the massive burger-loving best news is that we’ll be getting not one, but two locations of the wildly popular San Antonio-based fast-food chain.
The first will be at 12916 S. Cleveland Ave. in south Fort Myers — with Mission BBQ and Carrabba’s on one side and Olive Garden on the other, in the building that previously housed Aussie Grill and Boston Market.
“Right now it depends on the closeout, but it should be (open) a little bit after Labor Day,” said Zack Wallen, Whataburger’s growth market leader for Florida.
And when it does, it’ll be open around the clock.
“This location is slated to be 24 hours,” Wallen said, adding that it is the norm for most of Whataburger’s locations across the country — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except on Christmas.
But that’s not all.
A second local location is coming, too.
Whataburger coming to Estero, too
“We have one more slated for Estero (after Fort Myers opens),” Wallen said. “We want to open there later this year in late fall or early winter.”
That one will be in Pollo Tropical’s former space off Lyden Drive in the Coconut Point area.
Celebrating its 75th year, Whataburger prides itself on being a hometown hamburger place with original recipes made to order and for its customer service.
In 2024, it was recognized by USA Today in the 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Fast Food Breakfast, Best Fast Food Burger for the Double Meat Whataburger, Best Fast Food Fries, and Best Regional Fast Food lists.
Whataburger has more than 1,100 locations in 17 states throughout the U.S. While more than 40 are in Florida with multiple stores in Jacksonville, Pensacola and Tallahassee, there’s a shift coming.
“Central and South Florida — Tampa, Orlando and Fort Myers — are top priorities right now,” Wallen said. “We know our fanbase. When we opened in Tampa, there was a huge following. Our fans, families and Texas natives are moving to the area. We want to grow with them.”
In the Tampa area, Whataburger opened in Largo in February of this year, followed by Lutz and Brandon, both in April.
“Tampa was first, and now we’re slated to open in Orlando (near UCF) in August,” Wallen said. “The Tampa area has been fun. And now I’m very excited about the Fort Myers market.”
More Whataburgers next year?
And after that?
“I do know we have one or two more locations late next year, assuming permitting all goes well,” Wallen said. “There will be more growth in 2027 within the Southwest Florida corridor along (Interstate) 75. Nothing farther south at this time, but we’re actively looking at sites.”
In the meantime, we’ll be at the Fort Myers and Estero locations as soon as they open, eating the burgers and melts and onion rings and …
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Whataburger to open two SW Florida locations. Where, when to find them
Reporting by Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
