Branson’s “Hamburger Hill,” the hill immediately west of the junction of Main Street’s intersection with Veterans Boulevard, will soon add to its hamburger reputation. A new Whataburger at 600 W. Main Street across the street from Chick-fil-A is well under construction and near completion. When completed, lovers of chain hamburger restaurants will have a choice of four different eateries: Steak and Shake, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Whataburger.
Although construction of the new Whataburger Restaurant is well underway and the landscaping is in, specific information on the Branson store has yet to be made available. On October 1, 2024, the following e-mail was sent to Whataburger: “My name is Gary Groman. I am a reporter and columnist with the Branson Globe in Branson, Missouri, and I would like to interview someone or get some information about the new Whataburger being built in Branson. …If someone could contact me, I would appreciate it. I am looking forward to having a Whataburger in Branson.”
Whataburger representative Sean M. Wood replied, expressing gladness that we are interested in sharing the Whataburger Branson story. However, he said they are not ready to discuss the details of Whataburger’s plans for Branson. He said, “Timelines are fluid, even up to the last week. We recently announced an opening, only for an equipment issue to delay it by a week” and that he would notify us when more information became available.
The footprint of the building shows the same type and style of the store as the one at 2355 N. Glenstone Ave. in Springfield, which this writer visited on September 30, 2024. That store has inside seating and drive-through lanes. Besides hamburgers, it offers an extensive menu including salads, malts, chicken sandwiches, desserts and a breakfast menu. My daughter had the breakfast burrito and said it was one of the best she had ever had. We tried their chocolate chip brownie. It was one of the best brownies I have ever had: purely delicious, soft, and full of chocolate chunks with a crispy, flakey top.
Whataburger opened its doors on August 8, 1950, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Its founder, Harmon Dobson, had a clear mission: to create a substantial burger that required two hands to hold. His vision was to sell food and offer a memorable experience, with guests exclaiming, “What a burger!”
Now, over 70 years later, Whataburger has grown into a giant within the fast-food sector, not only maintaining its reputation for large, delicious burgers but also for its unwavering commitment to quality service and community engagement. As of today, Whataburger operates in over 1,000 restaurants across 15 states. With the addition of the Branson store, about 20 will be operating in Missouri, with five in the Branson area, three in Springfield, one in Ozark, and one in Republic.
Our research shows that beyond the food, Whataburger stands out for its strong company culture and social impact, earning several accolades that underscore its status in the industry. Forbes has named it one of “America’s Best Large Employers,” recognized for its treatment and consideration of its over 51,000 employees nationwide, also affectionately called Family Members.
During our visit to the Springfield restaurant, we witnessed this firsthand as we met an employee who was filling out a form seeking financial help from Whataburger to offset the costs of the temporary lodging he had to get because of the ongoing remodeling of his current living space. He expressed his amazement and appreciation that his employer was offering this help.
Forbes has acknowledged Whataburger’s dedication to creating a positive customer experience by celebrating it as one of the top “Customer Experience All-Stars,” and Newsweek has listed it among “America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains.” Whataburger also focuses on giving back to the community and making a social impact. These features garnered recognition from Forbes as a “Best Brand for Social Impact.” This commitment ensures that Whataburger serves more than just food; they foster community and support that resonate with their customers.
I have to mention this. While my daughter and I were up in Springfield for a medical issue, I wanted to stop by a Whataburger because I would be writing about it this week. They didn’t know me from Adam, but from the ordering and payment, until we walked out the door, I felt we were in a place with people who cared about what they were doing and our customer experience. It reminded me of my first Whataburger experience at Padre Island over 15 years ago and how welcome and comfortable I felt going into the store for the first time. So much so that I went back just about every morning during the two weeks we were there.
We will keep you updated as we receive more information on the Branson store.
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