Raising Cane’s, Whataburger Close for Delivery Delays

The impact of last week's winter storms continues to affectTuscaloosa businesses for the weekend.

CHASING CHICKEN

The University of Alabama's food service department, Bama Dining, tweeted early Saturday morning that Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, which is housed on campus in Paty Hall, will be forced to close for the weekend due to delivery shipment delays.

The Baton Rouge-based quick-service restaurant was a subject of much tension when it closed earlier in 2020 during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students rejoiced when it announced a February 2021 grand reopening, lining several blocks to get their hands on a Caniac meal.

A Facebook story from Bama Dining stated that the restaurant will be closed "until further notice," presumably when deliveries can safely resume.

WHATANIGHTMARE

Another local favorite is hurting for supplies as well, as it seems that both Tuscaloosa Whataburger locations are closed this weekend. The burger chain is based out of San Antonio, Texas, where more than 250,000 residents were without power last week.

The corporate communications office at Whataburger's headquarters issued the following statement to several Texas-based news outlets last week, which Jess Elizarraras at MySanAntonio.com reported:

"Severe weather conditions and rolling blackouts could impact some San Antonio-area Whataburger restaurants’ ability to maintain their normal 24/7 schedule," the statement read. "In the event that restaurant closures are necessary, we will reopen as soon as it’s safe for our team members and guests."

While this statement only mentions Texas-based Whataburger stores, the distribution centers are also based in Texas, and those delivery pains are being felt as far as the Druid City. Hungry Tuscaloosans took to the Alabama Student Ticket Exchange, a Facebook group for all things UA, to voice their concerns over the unexpected closure.

"Due to Whataburgers’ supply chain basing out of Texas there is no way to get product to the stores. All Whataburgers are closed," one commenter said. "Whataburger will be back to regular scheduled program Sunday at 12pm."

Calls to both Whataburger locations were unanswered, and the stores' Google profiles both say they're temporarily closed. The parking lots and drive-thrus at both locations were desolate Saturday as well.

It is not confirmed whether Whataburger will actually re-open for business at noon Sunday, but here's hoping.

NO COFFEE ON CAMPUS

The Starbucks coffee shop in the Ferguson Student Center is facing the same issues and had to announce a temporary closure the day before. Starbucks, a popular study spot for UA students, will re-open Monday to allow students to congregate again, but they may have nothing to serve.

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"Ferg Starbucks will stop service temporarily beginning today (Saturday 2/20) and will restart service when deliveries resume," a tweet from Bama Dining stated. "The area will open Monday for those wishing to use the area to work or study."

This story will be updated as more information is made available. For more information on closures and weather impacts in the West Alabama area, stay connected to this website and download our free mobile app here.