How people leaned on Whataburger during the pandemic

Like many people, Jordan Mendiola-Tagle of Corpus Christi, Texas always saw Whataburger as somewhere to gather and enjoy company. Whether it was late on a weekday evening or after church on a Sunday, it was always there.

“It was always a place to commune with other people,” Jordan said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, Jordan says her whole family was feeling scared and unsure about the future. It was a strange transition for her and her brothers to suddenly have to go to college and work from home.

Getting a to-go order from Whataburger turned into a weekly tradition that brought their whole family closer and gave them something to look forward to together. They’d get their food, watch movies, play games, or just enjoy each other’s company.

“It was one of the only sure things when there were a lot of things we weren't sure about,” said Jordan. Every week, we would look forward to the morale boost. I was glad I could bring them some encouragement—even if just with some good food.”

A romantic parking lot dinner 

Jody and John Duffey of Katy, Texas were set to celebrate 47 years of marriage with a nice dinner together, until the pandemic caused all the dining rooms to close. 

So, they decided to go to the Whataburger drive-thru and have their anniversary dinner right in the parking lot. John made it romantic by packing their car with folding chairs, a table, flowers, and a wedding photo. 

“It showed me that no matter what’s going on in the world, we can always find a way to celebrate our love,” Jody said. 

The restaurant staff did their part to help mark the occasion, bringing them a special anniversary apple pie. A local TV reporter even stopped by to interview them, making it the most memorable anniversary celebration of their lives.

“I’ll always remember that anniversary dinner at Whataburger,” Jody said. “We already had a special place in our hearts for Whataburger, and this made it even more meaningful.”

A thousand miles apart, but still in your heart

Augusta Sierra and her family found comfort in Whataburger in a different way. They’re from Texas but were living in California when her daughter Willow had to start first grade on Zoom.

“She had been so excited to start school, but the pandemic changed everything,” Augusta said.

To help make her feel more comfortable during her first week, they downloaded some Whataburger Zoom backgrounds for Willow to use in class. Augusta shared a picture on social media, and Whataburger sent a care package with a backpack, socks, and notebooks for Willow.

“It sure made us homesick Texans proud and reminded us that Whataburger will always be number one in our hearts,” Augusta said.