History Made in Spartanburg as People Brave the Cold for Whataburger’s Grand Opening
On a crisp, clear morning in Spartanburg, a new pair of dedicated fast food lovers scrawled their names into local lore. Phil Foust and Kyan Sapko earned the enviable title of being the first customers at the city’s highly anticipated Whataburger location. Their reward? A year’s worth of indulgence in the Texan-born fast food establishment’s juicy burgers and thick shakes.
Waiting in line felt like a community celebration
It all started on a cloudy early morning with peaks of sunshine teasing late into the day. The wait was very warm, reaching highs of 77°F. But, such trivial discomforts were no deterrant to Phil Foust, a retired builder. This Columbia native was no stranger to the ritual of grand openings. He drove a jaw-dropping two hours, arriving at 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 27, and was prepared to withstand chilly temperatures of 55°F during his overnight vigil for the burger joint’s inaugural day on Oct. 28.
“I would definitely do it again in a minute,” Foust said, a glow in his eyes hinting at the adventurer within. As the first in line, his patience was rewarded with 52 cards entitling him to a free burger each week for a whole year! Reflecting on his win, the jovial gentleman confessed plans to share his bounty with members of his church, “If I eat all this stuff then I’ll be 400 pounds,” he humorously added.
A friendship formed while in line
Next in line, experiencing the thrill of a grand opening for the first time was 18-year-old Kyan Sapko, a freshman at Converse University. Embarking on this adventurous prank with friends turned into an exciting solo endeavor for the International Business student who sustained a 20-hour wait with just a lawn chair and his phone (which died early on).
Despite fears of it turning into a miserable, cold experience, Sapko found camaraderie and amusement in the long wait. “The guys that I ended up doing it with made it really fun,” Sapko said, as his face brightened at the memory.
Looking ahead to more openings
Victorious in their overnight challenge, the newly formed fast food enthusiast duo exchanged contact information, and look forward to future grand openings in the city. And as Spartanburg city officials plan to mitigate traffic congestion, the locals are certainly excited about the new Whataburger location which is open 24 hours a day. Further adding to the anticipation, another Whataburger location is set to open on Nov. 4.
In the end, whether it’s the free food or the thrill of the overnight wait that gets you in line for grand openings, remember, it’s the chance to be part of a community celebration and making lasting friendships that could turn out to be the real reward. Maybe Phil Foust’s final words encapsulate it best, “I’m looking forward to the next one, wherever it may be. I’m ready for it.”
