---
title: "Refuel to open its first Whataburger"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/a38c48ad-2bab-4680-adda-2a6a7f7ee3ca
source: "Restaurant Dive"
original_url: https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/refuel-first-whataburger/819339/
author: "Brett Dworski"
category: "Burger"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Burger"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-05-05T13:55:48.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T20:02:55.590Z
image: https://imgproxy.divecdn.com/YQfcn4Q0v2JW-UDjyKm2Giy78QKtOoE2qpyRzR_E86s/g:ce/rs:fit:770:435/Z3M6Ly9kaXZlc2l0ZS1zdG9yYWdlL2RpdmVpbWFnZS9pbWFnZV8xMTUucG5n.webp
---

# Refuel to open its first Whataburger

**TL;DR:** Refuel Operating Company will open its first Whataburger location in Kenedy, Texas, adjacent to a convenience store. The location is expected to open in late 2026 and will feature Whataburger's full menu and a drive-thru.

*By Brett Dworski, originally published in Restaurant Dive on 2026-05-05. [Read the original](https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/refuel-first-whataburger/819339/).*

## Story

- Refuel Operating Company is planning to open its first-ever site with a Whataburger adjacent to one of its convenience stores, Travis Smith, the retailer’s co-founder and co-CEO, confirmed to C-Store Dive.

- The Whataburger, expected to open in late 2026, will be located at an upcoming Refuel convenience store in Kenedy, Texas, a small town about 60 miles southeast of San Antonio. It will feature the burger chain’s full menu as well as a drive-thru, Colleen Barrett, vice president of development and construction for Refuel, said in a statement.

- Refuel continues to diversify its roster of QSRs, which includes over 30 c-store adjacent restaurants such as Church’s Chicken, Dairy Queen, Subway, McDonald’s and Pollo El Rey, Barrett said.

Refuel, which owns and operates over 240 c-stores across South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas, is one of the many c-store retailers taking advantage of QSRs to boost site traffic as it grows its retail network. With foodservice becoming more of a focus for convenience retailers, operators are adding QSRs at breakneck speed to make their locations more food-focused destinations.

The Kenedy Whataburger will complement the adjacent Refuel c-store, which will still feature the retailer’s hot grab-and-go food program, merchandise, beverages and fuel services, Barrett said.

“Together, the combined offering is designed to drive traffic, increase dwell time, and deliver a more comprehensive convenience experience for our customers,” Barrett added.

Announcing its first Whataburger continues a busy past year for Refuel on the foodservice front. The retailer debuted its grab-and-go program, EATS, last April, and appointed a VP of foodservice and director of food strategy over the following few months.

Refuel isn’t the only convenience retailer showing an interest in Texas-based Whataburger. Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is also in the process of developing its first Whataburger, which is expected to open in May in San Antonio.

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- Restaurant Dive (publication)
- quick service restaurant (topic)
- Whataburger (company)
- convenience store (topic)
- qsr expansion (topic)
- Travis Smith (person)
- Refuel Operating Co (company)
- Brett Dworski (person)
- Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores (company)
- Colleen Barrett (person)
- Kenedy, Texas (location)

---
Originally reported by Brett Dworski, Restaurant Dive (https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/refuel-first-whataburger/819339/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/a38c48ad-2bab-4680-adda-2a6a7f7ee3ca).