Whataburger is set to expand its North Carolina footprint with a new restaurant in Chapel Hill. The Texas-born chain has submitted plans for a 2,074-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru at 219 S. Estes Drive, next to Circle K at the redeveloping University Place, according to the News & Observer.
WhatNow has confirmed the Chapel Hill restaurant will be corporate-owned, with confirmation provided by Jessica Reicher, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Whataburger.
The News & Observer reports the proposed restaurant would occupy a new outparcel within the University Place redevelopment, a mixed-use project led by Ram Realty Advisors. Although drive-thrus are relatively uncommon in Chapel Hill, the approved redevelopment plan allows for several that comply with the town’s design standards. The proposal must still complete the town’s review process before construction can begin.
Once complete, the restaurant will join a growing lineup of retail and dining tenants at University Place, which is being transformed into a destination featuring restaurants, shops, apartments, office space, and public gathering areas.
If approvals proceed as anticipated, the News & Observer says the Chapel Hill location is expected to open in mid-2027, further expanding Whataburger’s presence across North Carolina.
