HICKORY, NC — Hickory will soon be home to the first of eight planned Whataburger restaurants in the state.  Leaders of the Texas-based burger chain held a ground breaking on highway 70 southeast near the Valley Hills mall on Tuesday. Hickory Mayor Hank Guess said the restaurant will help create more economic development and could bring more business to the area. “I  think Whataburger is going to contribute really well in this area. We’re all about partnerships and relationships, and they talk about hometown and having that hometown feeling. So we’re really excited about the future here,” Hickory Mayor Hank Guess said.  The Hickory location is expected to open in the early summer. Whataburger said  four locations are planned for the Charlotte area.