Love’s Travel Stops to Open First Whataburger Franchise in San Antonio as Part of Major QSR Expansion

SAN ANTONIO, TX (Jan. 28, 2025) – Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is adding Whataburger to its growing list of franchised quick-service restaurants (QSRs), marking a significant step in its nationwide expansion strategy. Love’s President Shane Wharton announced the partnership during a press conference last Wednesday, confirming that the first Love’s-operated Whataburger will open adjacent to a Love’s travel center in Texas by the end of 2025.
In a separate statement to C-Store Dive, a Love’s spokesperson revealed that the first location will be in San Antonio, set to open in late summer or early fall of this year.
Strategic Growth & Whataburger’s Popularity
During the press conference, Wharton emphasized the importance of restaurant partnerships in Love’s expansion plans, as the company aims to surpass 1,000 total QSRs within its travel center network by the end of 2025.
“Whataburger has been on our radar for a long time,” Wharton said. “The people that like Whataburger, they really love it, so we’re anticipating strong customer feedback and demand.”
The Texas-based burger chain has experienced rapid growth in recent years, surpassing 1,000 locations across 16 states in the Southeast and Southwest in 2024. The addition of Whataburger makes it the 20th restaurant brand in the Love’s franchise portfolio, joining Arby’s, Baskin Robbins, Burger King, Denny’s, Subway, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Bojangles—one of Love’s largest QSR partners with whom they signed a 40-location franchise deal in 2019.
Future Expansion & Technology Upgrades
Wharton also revealed that Love’s is exploring additional restaurant concepts beyond Whataburger but was not ready to announce further details. In addition, the company is introducing mobile ordering for its QSRs via the Love’s Connect mobile app, beginning with more than 100 Arby’s locations before rolling out to other brands.
Love’s overall expansion aligns with its ambitious 2025 goals, which include:
✅ Opening 20 new travel centers
✅ Refreshing 50 existing locations as part of a $1 billion remodel project
With San Antonio set to host the first-ever Love’s Whataburger, local residents and travelers alike can look forward to enjoying their favorite Texas-sized burgers and fries at a brand-new roadside destination.
For more updates on Love’s expansion and restaurant partnerships, visit loves.com or follow @LovesTravelStops on social media.