Spencer Pauley arrived at 6 a.m. Monday to be first in line at Mt. Juliet’s long-awaited Whataburger restaurant located at the southeast corner of Lebanon and North Mt. Juliet roads.
A “once-in-a-lifetime (opportunity)” and the chance for free gifts brought the 16-year-old Spencer from his home in Gallatin to get in line outside five hours before the restaurant’s scheduled 11 a.m. opening as several other vehicles began to arrive.
The lease to build the restaurant at 11190 Lebanon Road was reported in 2021. However, delays occurred that started with the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s concerns about the initial planned entrance and exit on North Mount Juliet Road being too close to the intersection.
The current, revised plan extends the entrance and exit lane back behind a Camel Express Car Wash and Slim Chickens just south of the new Whataburger. There is also an entrance planned on Lebanon Road.
The restaurant takes the space of a former gas station and convenience store, and zoning for the fast-casual Texas brand was already in place according to Mt. Juliet Mayor James Maness.
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“I can say there were no traffic issues (Monday), on one of their busiest days they will have,” Mt. Juliet Public Information Officer Justin Beasley said.
“I’m a little worried, but I’m confident the city will be able to work out any challenges that might come up,” Mt. Juliet City Commissioner Ray Justice said.
Gifts for the first patrons were scheduled to be distributed at 10:45 a.m. Monday, Whataburger Field Marketing Coordinator Courtney Vick said.
A Whataburger-for-a-Year gift box is given to the first person in each drive-thru lane and the first person in line at the front door, Vick said. “Swag bags” are also given to the first 100 customers, according to Vick.
Mt. Juliet also recently approved a Whataburger location on the city’s south side, on Rutland Drive near the new Costco store off Golden Bear Gateway. The burger chain announced that opening is scheduled for spring 2025.
Reach Andy Humbles at [email protected] or 615-726-5939 and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Whataburger opens in Mt. Juliet after delays, plans expansion
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