The news last week that famous Texas restaurant chain Whataburger has been sold by the founding family to an investment firm, and associated hand-wringing about what an expansion could do to quality, made me think of a blog post I made in 2013.
Nearly 85% of Whataburger’s locations are in Texas. Six years ago, the northernmost locations were in Tulsa and Stillwater. But since then, the chain has moved northward…to suburban Tulsa, specifically, Claremore. Claremore has its place in Americana as the home of Will Rogers and the setting of the play that became — apply vocals as necessary — OOOOOOOklahoma!*
I’d have pinned Kansas City or Lawrence as the most likely future collision of Whataburger and Culver’s, but it turns out there are a dozen Culver’s in Texas already. (I did not look closely enough to see if any were within eyeshot of each other.)
*Of which a “darker, deconstructed version” just won a Tony for Best Revival of a Musical. THEY MADE A GRIMDARK OKLAHOMA IS NOTHING SACRED.