KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Whataburger is set to expand its presence in Knoxville with plans to open three new restaurants, according to recent documents found on a public bidding website.
The proposed locations include Cumberland Avenue, East Emory Road, and Wild Geese Road. Notably, two of these spots previously housed Steak n Shake restaurants.
The Cumberland Avenue site is situated beneath apartment buildings and will be near a Raisin’ Canes restaurant. County records indicate Whataburger filed for a business license for this location on April 22.
While Whataburger has not publicly commented on these developments, the site plans reveal further details about the projects. The East Emory Road location will undergo a full renovation and include a two-lane drive-thru. Bidding for this site closed on May 21. According to reports, planning for this location began in October 2024.
Similarly, the Wild Geese Road site is planned for renovation, with bidding closing on May 19. Work on this project also started in October 2024.
The Cumberland Avenue location will be dine-in only and is also a renovation project. Bidding for this site closed earlier, on March 20.
Duffey Southeast Construction, based in Cumming, Georgia, is the main contractor listed for all three developments.
Currently, Whataburger operates 23 locations in Tennessee, primarily in the Memphis and Nashville markets. The Texas-based burger chain, headquartered in San Antonio, reports $4 billion in annual sales across 16 states, with more than 1,000 restaurants nationwide.
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