Whataburger is continuing its return to the Tampa Bay market, with the Texas-based burger chain planning a new restaurant in Palmetto, Florida.

The proposed location would become Whataburger’s fourth restaurant in the Tampa Bay region, further extending the company’s footprint south into rapidly growing Manatee County. Construction on the Palmetto restaurant is expected to begin in mid-January 2027, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Whataburger Expands Across Tampa Bay

The Palmetto restaurant follows Whataburger’s broader push into the Tampa Bay market after a lengthy absence from the region.

The company has already established locations in Largo, Brandon and Lutz, giving the brand a presence across Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Palmetto would add Manatee County to that footprint and create a more extensive presence along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Whataburger’s Florida expansion extends beyond Tampa Bay as well. The company’s current Florida footprint stretches from longstanding markets in North Florida and the Panhandle to newer locations in Central and Southwest Florida.

The chain is also preparing additional Florida restaurants as part of a broader expansion strategy, including new locations in Fort Myers and Estero.

Palmetto Continues to See Commercial Growth

From a commercial real estate perspective, Whataburger’s decision to target Palmetto comes as northern Manatee County continues experiencing substantial residential and commercial development.

Growth throughout Palmetto, Parrish and the surrounding communities has attracted increased interest from national retailers and restaurant operators seeking to establish locations closer to expanding residential populations.

New housing communities, infrastructure investment and continued development along major corridors such as U.S. 301, U.S. 41 and Interstate 75 are helping reshape the commercial landscape of northern Manatee County.

Restaurants and retailers are increasingly following those rooftops.

National Brands Follow Manatee County’s Population Growth

Whataburger is not alone in targeting the area.

Northern Manatee County has seen a steady pipeline of new retail, restaurant and mixed-use projects as developers respond to population growth moving north and east from the traditional Bradenton-Sarasota core.

For quick-service restaurant operators, that growth can create opportunities for new freestanding locations with strong visibility, drive-thru access and proximity to expanding residential trade areas.

Whataburger’s selection of Palmetto reinforces the area’s increasing importance within the broader Tampa Bay and Sarasota-Bradenton commercial markets.

Another Sign of Tampa Bay’s Expanding Retail Footprint

Whataburger’s return to Tampa Bay demonstrates how the region’s growth continues to attract major national restaurant brands.

The company’s expansion from Largo to Brandon, Lutz and now Palmetto creates a footprint spanning much of the Tampa Bay region while positioning the brand for additional growth throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast.

For Palmetto and northern Manatee County, the planned restaurant is another indication that retail and restaurant development is continuing to follow the region’s residential expansion.

As more households move into Palmetto, Parrish and surrounding communities, additional national concepts are likely to continue evaluating the area for future locations—further strengthening northern Manatee County’s position as one of the region’s emerging commercial growth markets.