One of Arkansas’ most iconic restaurants and a member of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame has officially closed its doors after 58 years in Russellville.
Feltner’s Whatta-Burger, located across from Arkansas Tech University, served its final customers Friday night as hundreds gathered for one last burger, shake, and order of fries at the legendary River Valley restaurant.
The restaurant announced the closure on social media, thanking customers for decades of support and memories.
Originally opened by Robert “Bob” Feltner, the burger restaurant became a landmark destination in Russellville and across Arkansas. Over the years, generations of Arkansas Tech students, local families, Razorback fans, and Interstate 40 travelers made the restaurant a regular stop.
Known for its burgers, fried pies, and milkshakes, Feltner’s Whatta-Burger earned statewide recognition and was inducted into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame in 2021.
Customers packed the restaurant Friday evening with lines stretching through the parking lot as the community said goodbye to a place many considered part of the fabric of Russellville.
Owners Missy Feltner Ellis and Randy Ellis thanked the community for supporting the family-owned business for nearly 6 decades.
For many Arkansans, Feltner’s Whatta-Burger was more than a restaurant — it was a tradition filled with memories shared across generations.
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