Whataburger weathers social media crossfireWhataburger weathers social media crossfire

Whataburger Restaurants LLC, which last week clarified its policy on open-carry guns in its units, has continued to face social media pot shots from both sides of the issue.

Postings on Facebook and Twitter after the Texas governor signed a new open-carry bill on June 13 led the CEO of the San Antonio-based burger chain to expand on the chain’s response ahead of the law’s effective date of Jan. 1, 2016.

“As a company serving customers with many different viewpoints, we’re sometimes caught in the middle on controversial issues like this one,” wrote Preston Atkinson, Whataburger’s president and CEO, in a policy statement July 2 on the company’s website.

Atkinson said that while Whataburger supported Second Amendment gun rights, noting that he has a concealed-weapon permit himself, the chain wanted all guests to feel comfortable in its restaurants.

“We haven’t allowed the open carry of firearms in our restaurants for a long time (although we have not prohibited licensed conceal carry). It’s a business decision we made a long time ago and have stood by, and I think it’s important you know why,” Atkinson wrote.

“From a business standpoint, though, we have to think about how open carry impacts our 34,000 employees and millions of customers,” he continued, adding that Whataburger is a “gathering spot for Little League teams, church groups and high school kids after football games.”

Atkinson noted that customers and employees had told management they felt “uncomfortable being around someone with a visible firearm who is not a member of law enforcement.”

From a business standpoint, Atkinson continued, “We have to listen and value that feedback in the same way we value yours. We have a responsibility to make sure everyone who walks into our restaurants feels comfortable. For that reason, we don’t restrict licensed concealed carry but do ask customers not to open carry in our restaurants.”

An unscientific poll by Houston’s KPRC news illustrated the public divide on the issue, with 51 percent of website respondents agreeing with Whataburger’s decision on open carry and 49 percent opposed.

Screen capture courtesy of KPRC News Website in Houston

Social-media reaction was broad on both sides of the issue for Whataburger, which on Wednesday ranked No. 30 in Nation’s Restaurant News’ Social 200 ranking of restaurant brands.

One gun-control supporter, for example, posted on Twitter:

And an open-carry supporter posted:

Restaurants increasingly have been drawn into the gun control debate.

In spring 2014, Chili’s Grill & Bar and Sonic Drive-In issued policy statements urging patrons not to display guns on their properties after open-carry proponents protested at their units. Both companies were loudly criticized on social media platforms.

And in September, Panera Bread drew criticism and praise when it asked customers not to bring firearms into any of its 1,818 restaurants in 45 states.

Panera said in a statement provided to Nation’s Restaurant News at the time: “Within our company, we strive to create ‘Panera Warmth.’ This warmth means bakery-cafes where customers and associates feel comfortable and welcome.

“To this end,” the statement continued, “we ask that guns not be brought into this environment unless carried by an authorized law enforcement officer. Panera respects the rights of gun owners, but asks our customers to help preserve the environment we are working to create for our guests and associates.”

Whatburger has restaurants in 10 states.

Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless