New Whataburger Opens in Hickory, Local TV to Broadcast Live

The franchise's second Hickory store will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting and live broadcast.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:24am

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Whataburger is opening its second location in Hickory, North Carolina on Thursday, April 2. The new restaurant, located at 2411 North Center Street, will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 AM. Local TV station WHKY will broadcast its morning program 'On Second Thought' live from the new Whataburger from 9 AM to 12 PM.

Why it matters

The opening of a new Whataburger location is significant for the Hickory community, as the popular Texas-based fast food chain continues to expand its footprint in the Southeast. The live broadcast from WHKY will help drive awareness and excitement for the new restaurant's debut.

The details

Whataburger first opened in Hickory in June 2025 with a location at 2060 U.S. Highway 70 SE. The franchise, which has been serving made-to-order burgers and other menu items since 1950, is now opening a second Hickory store at 2411 North Center Street. The grand opening will feature a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 AM on Thursday, April 2.

  • Whataburger's first Hickory location opened in June 2025.
  • The new Whataburger at 2411 North Center Street will open on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Whataburger

A popular Texas-based fast food chain known for its made-to-order burgers and other menu items. Whataburger has been in operation since 1950 and is continuing to expand across the Southeast.

WHKY

A local television station in Hickory, North Carolina that will broadcast its morning program 'On Second Thought' live from the new Whataburger location during its grand opening.

Chuck Boozer

The host of WHKY's 'On Second Thought' program, who will broadcast live from the new Whataburger in Hickory.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to open our second Hickory location and bring Whataburger's signature burgers and hospitality to even more of the community.”

— Whataburger Spokesperson

What’s next

The new Whataburger location will hold its grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30 AM on Thursday, April 2.

The takeaway

The opening of a second Whataburger in Hickory demonstrates the continued growth and popularity of the Texas-based fast food chain in the Southeast. The live broadcast from local TV station WHKY will help drive awareness and excitement for the new restaurant's debut.