Texas icon Whataburger bought by Chicago firm

Restaurant chain Whataburger has long prided itself on being Texas-based and family-owned, but is now making a change as majority ownership is sold to a Chicago investment firm.

BDT Capital Partners will be acquiring majority interest through its affiliated funds, according to a Friday press release. The chain’s current chief financial officer, Ed Nelson, will be promoted to president, while the current president Preston Atkinson and Board Chair Tom Dobson will continue on the board of directors.

The announcement was not taken well by many Texans, who have long viewed the restaurant chain as a symbol of their state and expressed concerns about outside investors changing the chain’s signature stylings.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Houstan Texans player J.J. Watt were among those taking to Twitter to jestingly call for fans to pool money and purchase the chain back.