ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Texas-based fast-food chain Whataburger has submitted plans to convert a former Popeyes restaurant on Smokey Park Highway into a new location with a drive-thru, according to records filed with the City of Asheville.
City planning records show a Level I planning application is under review for the property at 275 Smokey Park Highway, Suite 400, in West Asheville. The project calls for remodeling the existing building, previously occupied by Popeyes, into a Whataburger restaurant.
The application, filed by Julio Gutierrez of Sevan Multi-Site Solutions, describes the proposal as: “Remodel old Popeye’s building to convert into new Whataburger restaurant with drive-thru.”
The property is owned by SKS Partners LLC and is located on a 0.86-acre parcel within Asheville city limits. Planning records indicate the application remains in the plan-check stage. A notice related to landscaping and site requirements was added to the record on May 18.
If approved, the restaurant would join a growing commercial corridor along Smokey Park Highway. Nearby businesses include IHOP, Applebee’s, Starbucks, Nothing Bundt Cakes and local burger restaurant The Madness.
Founded in 1950 and headquartered in San Antonio, Whataburger is known for its made-to-order hamburgers and operates hundreds of restaurants across the South and Southwest. The company has expanded its presence in North Carolina in recent years, opening locations in several markets across the state.
No timeline for construction or opening was listed in the planning documents. The proposal remains subject to city review and approval.