The Whataburger location on the Strip closed Dec. 15, 2025. The location had been open since August 2023.
A Whataburger spokesperson said the closure was part of a business review to maximize growth opportunities. While there are currently no plans to open a new location in Tuscaloosa, there are over 40 planned new locations set to open in 2026 across the Southeast. Eight other locations closed in the Southeast during December.
Team members at the location were given the opportunity to transfer to the other two locations in town on Skyland Boulevard and McFarland Boulevard.
“This decision helps focus our efforts where we can make the biggest impact, ensuring our Guests continue to enjoy the high-quality, delicious food and genuine hospitality they’ve come to expect from Whataburger,” a Whataburger spokesperson said in a statement.
Braxton Hipps, a senior majoring in accounting, visited the University Boulevard location on its last day open over winter break and ordered his usual: a patty melt and a Diet Coke. Hipps said he frequented the location after late night study sessions or nights out with friends.
“At the time, I didn’t always think about how meaningful those late-night stops were, but realizing it was my last trip made it clear: That Whataburger wasn’t just a place to eat, it was a constant presence during my college nights, a familiar ending to so many long days and unforgettable evenings,” he said. “Letting it go felt like closing a small but important chapter of my college experience.”
