Russellville staple Feltner’s Whatta-Burger has closed after nearly six decades in business on May 9. The family-owned restaurant operated on North Arkansas Avenue in Russellville. The team behind the restaurant shared the closure announcement on Facebook and thanked the community for its support.
Russellville Loses Whatta-Burger
A longtime Russellville favorite, Feltner’s Whatta-Burger, was known for its old-school diner atmosphere and classic burgers. The restaurant was known for menu staples like the quarter-pound ‘Whatta-Burger,’ the ‘Double Double,’ and its signature fried pies.
On May 9, the restaurant team posted on social media, “After countless burgers, late nights, laughs, memories, and familiar faces walking through our doors… tonight at 9 p.m., we will officially be closing our doors for the last time.”
“We are heartbroken to say goodbye, but we are also incredibly grateful for every single person who supported us over the years. Thank you for every order, every share, every kind word, every laugh, and every memory made inside these walls.”
The team also thanked longtime patrons, “To every customer who chose us for lunch breaks, family dinners, after-Razorback-game meals, after-Arkansas-Tech-game meals, late-night cravings, celebrations, hard days, and everything in between—thank you. You were never “just customers” to us. So many of you became family,” said the team.
Several loyal customers of Feltner’s Whatta-Burger expressed their disappointment on social media, following the closure announcement. One of them wrote, “We are losing a tremendous part of Russellville history…but we understand. Thank you and thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bob, for the vision you had so long ago.”
Legacy of the Feltner’s Whatta-Burger
Feltner’s Whatta-Burger was founded in 1967 by Bob Feltner. Since its beginning, the restaurant has become a favorite in Russellville, Arkansas.
The business started as a small takeout burger stand and later expanded into a full-service restaurant. It featured a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and fresh, juicy burgers. Randy and Missy Ellis later took over the restaurant and continued its legacy. In 2021, the restaurant won the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame award from the Arkansas Heritage.
The sudden closure of the restaurant has left the community heartbroken. Its fans and locals will fondly remember Feltner’s Whatta-Burger for a long time.
