Whataburger Pulls Out Of Central Florida

(Friday, May 22, 2009) - The Corpus Christi, Texas-based Whataburger company will close all five of its Tampa-area locations, as a turnaround effort was not successful in Florida, company officials said.

All 14 Whataburger locations in Florida will close. Whataburger has locations in Palm Harbor, New Port Richey, Zephyrhills, Tampa and Largo employing about 130 people.

They will close at 3 p.m. on May 31.

As recently as 2005, the chain had major expansion plans, announcing its intentions to build 118 more restaurants in the Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville areas.

Founded by former bush pilot and entrepreneur Harmon Dobson, the chain began with a small stand in South Texas more than a half-century ago.

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