photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Lawrence's new Whataburger restaurant is pictured on Oct. 16, 2024.

News and notes from around town:

It is not quite yet Whataburger, but it is Whatasmell.

Residents who have been going to the Douglas County Elections Office near 23rd and Louisiana streets for advance voting have been picking up an unmistakable scent from the office’s neighbor — the smell of frying hamburgers.

It indeed is coming from the not-yet-opened Whataburger restaurant at 707 W. 23rd St. Employee training is underway at the Whataburger, which will be the Texas-based chain’s first restaurant in Lawrence.

Obviously, it is the surest sign yet that Whataburger is on the verge of opening its Lawrence location. We reported last month that Whataburger was hoping to open Oct. 28. That’s still the case, Jay Battle, chief operating officer for the Whataburger franchise KMO Burger told me today.

“We are thrilled to be close to opening our Lawrence Whataburger at KMO,” Battle told me via text. “Our goal is Monday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m..”

But the company can’t yet promise that will be the opening date. Training is still underway, and a few other issues remain. Battle said that if the Oct. 28 date isn’t feasible, the opening likely would move to Nov. 4.

Expect a press release with an official announcement to be issued in the next few days.

If you are keeping track at home, Nov. 4 is the day before the General Election. As noted above, the election office — where the county tallies its votes — is next door to the Whataburger restaurant. Whataburger has been known to create long lines during its first few days of opening, but it seems unlikely that would really create a problem for election operations. (We might need to check some ballots for ketchup stains, though, as surely some Whataburgers will make their way next door.)

When Whataburger opens, it will be the end of a long process. We began reporting on Whataburger securing the site of the old Mi Ranchito building in June 2022. The project won city approvals fairly quickly, but the KMO franchise — which includes Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as an investor — has been busy expanding in the Kansas City area too.

As for what is a Whataburger, surely you already know. But, if not, the restaurant long has been a fast-food staple in Texas, Oklahoma and other parts south of here. But it has become a big deal in Kansas City because Mahomes was such a big fan and made it his mission to bring the chain to the Kansas City area.

As for the food, well, the hamburger is of course the main attraction. The standard comes with mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and diced onions on a 5-inch bun. Other toppings are available, like jalapeños, grilled pepper and onions, avocado, and sometimes the chain even has special toppings like a hard boiled egg or green chiles. The other item that gets a lot of talk is ketchup. While the hamburgers don’t come with ketchup as a standard fixing, the restaurant actually offers two types of ketchup — a regular version or a spicy version. Picante sauce and salsa verde are also part of the offerings.

The restaurant also is big into breakfast, and in particular, late-night or early morning breakfast. Most Whataburgers are open 24 hours.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

A vacant commercial building under renovation at 13th Street and Haskell Avenue is shown on Oct. 18, 2024.

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It is stones, not smells, that are attracting attention near the corner of 13th and Haskell in eastern Lawrence.

Motorists passing by a small, vacant commercial building at the corner have seen a stone fence being constructed around the former hair salon building.

What’s going on there?

Hopefully a neighborhood coffee shop or something like it, said Patrick Watkins, a Lawrence attorney who recently purchased the building, which is just a few doors down from his home.

The small space used to be the home to the Hidden Jewel Hair Salon. When it closed, Watkins decided to purchase the building because he thinks such spaces can be great community building spaces in a neighborhood. That’s why he would love a coffee shop in the space, but to be clear, he doesn’t have any tenant signed up for the building.

“I know it is tough to run a coffee shop, but they can really add an element to a neighborhood,” Watkins said.

However, the space is only 675 square feet, with eight parking spots but no drive thru. So, space is at a premium, but hey, some coffee shops operate out of a cart. Of course, Watkins said he is open to other types of businesses as well. The site is zoned for neighborhood commercial, which means it legally can accommodate a broad range of businesses.

“I think it will be some sort of speciality service,” Watkins said. “There is somebody who will want to find a home just like this.”

But what is up with the stone fence? Is it a space for a cow if a coffee shop wants really fresh cream? No, but I should patent that idea because it is a fantastic gimmick. (In fact, I would say it is “udderly” good.) Rather, Watkins said he simply’s trying to add more interest to the corner property, and he hired noted stone mason and artist Karl Ramberg to build the stone fence.

•••

Several corners near the KU campus are among the most unique in Lawrence not because of stone fences but rather because of their zoning. Back in June, I reported on a project that was under construction at 14th and Ohio streets, next door to the college bar The Hawk. It was unique because it was taking advantage of a relatively new zoning category that allows for mixed use development. Plans call for that two story building to have a sandwich shop or some similar restaurant use on the ground floor, and apartment on the top floor.

I noted at the time that wasn’t the only intersection near campus to have the mixed use zoning in place, and wondered whether we would see more of it. The answer clearly is yes. Look for construction work to begin soon on a similar type of building at 1347 Tennessee Street, which is basically right behind the project at 14th and Ohio streets.

That proposed building got its final design approved by the city’s Historic Resources Commission earlier this week. It is a three-story building, and plans call for a coffee shop or some type of similar use on the ground floor, with apartments on the two floors above. Lawrence-based Paul Werner Architects has designed both buildings. Here’s a look at what to expect for the 1347 Tennessee building.

photo by: Paul Werner Architects/City of Lawrence

A rendering shows a building proposed for 1347 Tennessee Street near the KU campus.