NFL players tackle Whataburger opportunity in Florida
W. Scott Bailey
Houston Texan Tony Boselli is part of a group of NFL players and business executives that is expanding a South Texas fast-food institution to North Florida.
Boselli has joined JWB Ventures Ltd., an Austin-based group that signed a franchise agreement on Jan. 8 with Corpus Christi-based Whataburger Inc. As a result, JWB will build 28 Whataburger restaurants in the Jacksonville area. Whataburger officials say it represents one of the largest franchise agreements in the 53-year history of the burger chain.
The 28 stores will be operated by JWB, which is based in Austin and headed by businessman Gregory Feste. Officials say JWB is in the process of putting a regional management team in place in Florida. The company is also preparing to hire a real estate firm that will select sites and oversee construction of the Jacksonville Whataburgers.
The Austin investment group includes Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell, former Dallas Cowboy Robert Jones, former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Andre Wadsworth and current Cardinal offensive guard Leonard Davis, a former All-American from the University of Texas.
Other investors include Flynn Kile, the wife of recently deceased St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile, as well as Jim Schneider and Jay Bell. Schneider is chief financial officer of Dell Computer Corp. Bell is one of the founding partners of that company.
Says the Jaguars' Brunell about the venture: "I am thrilled to help bring Whataburger to Jacksonville. I'm excited not only about the financial opportunities but the privilege to endorse a superb organization and the best hamburger in town."