Why There's Only One Pair Of Whataburger Nikes In The World
Fast food and fashion are two things you might not think go together. But that hasn't stopped certain fast-food brands from trying to make their company a bit more fashionable, for better or for worse.
McDonald's has its own online shop called Golden Arches Unlimited, which sells shirts, socks, umbrellas, and tote bags all stamped with the brand's classic imagery. Taco Bell has its own line of merchandise, the Taco Bell Shop, which includes everything from taco-decorated bathrobes, wedding gifts, and even zesty sauce-themed bowties. Even KFC has Colonel & Co. that sells windbreakers, hoodies, and jerseys — unfortunately, the Colonel's classic white suit is strangely not available.
You can even find examples of some of the more regional fast-food chains, such as Whataburger, with some branded merch to their name. There are a pair of Nikes out there that not only rock the court, but also Whataburger's trademark orange-and-white branding. Before you break out the credit card, however, there's just one catch: There's only one pair in existence.
The shoes were part of a one-time contest
According to Eater, the Whataburger Nikes aren't for sale in the same way you can get a shirt from McDonald's or KFC. Instead, these shoes were designed specifically as a prize in an online contest. Back in 2017, Eater explains, Whataburger decided to take advantage of its cult following across the Southern and Western U.S. and hired Jake Danklef, a San Antonio-based artist, to create a custom-made pair of Air Jordans decked out in the restaurant chain's signature colors.
But the orange-and-white Air Jordans weren't the only shoes designed by Danklef, per Footwear News. A second pair of sneakers, black-and-red slip-ons with the words "Spicy" and "Ketchup" written across them, would be the second prize. The third and final prize would be a low-top white sneaker decorated with colorful "sticker" prints similar to the ones the chain uses on its burger wrappers. The Air Jordans would cost around $2,000, the slip-on shoes would cost around $1,500, and the low-top sneakers would cost $1,300 — pretty pricey footwear.
To enter the contest, participants shared their favorite customized Whataburger meals until August 7, 2017 using the hashtag "WhataThoseContest." While we can't find documentation of who won any of the sneakers, it's safe to say that someone out there is enjoying their Whataburger with a little bit more swag right now.