Whataburger plans to build new restaurant in Bradenton, records say
A year after filing paperwork to build its first Manatee County location, Whataburger is planning another one in the Bradenton area.
The regional fast food chain began in Corpus Christi, Texas, and has grown to more than 1,100 restaurants in 17 states. There are 47 locations across North Florida, though none south of St. Augustine.
However, that could change with Whataburger’s plans filed with the county’s Development Services to build a restaurant at 7627 Cortez Road W.
In 2024, Whataburger also submitted plans to build its first Bradenton restaurant in the Marketplace at Heritage Harbour shopping center off State Road 64 and Interstate 75.
The Cortez location is in the SeaFlower Village Center near 75th Street West. Publix anchors the plaza, which has 140,000 additional square feet for dining, shopping and office space, according to SeaFlower’s website.
The village center is part of the new SeaFlower neighborhood, where 60 homes have been sold since opening sales in May, a news release said.
Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger in Corpus Christi in 1950. According to company history, his goal was to serve a burger so big that it would take a customer two hands to hold and after a bite, that customer would say, “What a burger.”
In 1959, Dobson opened the first Whataburger outside of Texas. It was built in Pensacola. The company is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025.
The restaurants serve burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches, milkshakes and more. The food is cooked made-to-order, and most locations are open 24 hours a day. Whataburger restaurants are only closed on Christmas Day.
For more information, visit Whataburger.com.
