---
title: "Whataburger Sells Majority Ownership To Chicago Merchant Bank, Texas Fans Want To Buy It Back"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/ab9e78cd-2dbf-4915-abe0-0c45eb3dc732
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/whataburger-sells-majority-ownership-to-chicago-merchant-bank-texas-fans-want-to-buy-it-back-2710251
category: "Burger"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Burger"
topics: ["Finance & M&A"]
published: 2019-06-17T15:10:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:34:07.940Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/e013c7df1e2d9395eb5e59bdcb4504ec7683.jpg
---

# Whataburger Sells Majority Ownership To Chicago Merchant Bank, Texas Fans Want To Buy It Back

**TL;DR:** BDT Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private investment firm, has acquired majority ownership of Whataburger. The sale has sparked a reaction from Texas fans, including J.J. Watt and Governor Gregg Abbott, who want to buy the chain back.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2019-06-17. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/whataburger-sells-majority-ownership-to-chicago-merchant-bank-texas-fans-want-to-buy-it-back-2710251).*

## Story

Whataburger fans are up in arms over recent changes surrounding the iconic Texas chain. BDT Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private investment firm announced its purchase of Whataburger’s majority interest. Although it is unclear what impact, if any, this sale could have on the currently operating stores, many Texas fans feel slighted by the sale.

On Friday afternoon J.J. Watt, player for the Houston Texans, tweeted responding to the press release, “Ok, I say we all chip in and buy Whataburger back. Make honey butter chicken biscuits available all day, add kolaches to the menu and change nothing else. Especially not the ketchup.” Texas governor Gregg Abbott even hopped on the bandwagon with a meme that read, "Get in J.J., We're saving Whataburger."

Currently, BDT Capital has plans to advise on expansion and growth. "In order to keep satisfying our customers, we've been exploring different options to expand the brand and introduce it to new audiences," said Whataburger President Preston Atkinson. Read the full story here.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- brand expansion (topic)
- private equity (topic)
- Whataburger (company)
- majority ownership (topic)
- texas fans (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/whataburger-sells-majority-ownership-to-chicago-merchant-bank-texas-fans-want-to-buy-it-back-2710251). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/ab9e78cd-2dbf-4915-abe0-0c45eb3dc732).