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Krystal Hamburger Chain Moving Corporate HQ to Atlanta

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Krystal, the iconic little square burgers that are the South’s answer to the North’s White Castle, is uprooting from its Tennessee roots to head to Atlanta, reports the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The Krystal Co. announced Wednesday it will move from Chattanooga, Tenn., to a new headquarters in north Atlanta in early 2013. About 60 employees work at its corporate office.

“Our five-year plan calls for aggressive new store growth and Atlanta provides a more central location with access to the one of the country’s largest airports,” CEO Doug Pendergast said in a statement. “Our new support center will enable us to provide better support to our existing restaurants and to accelerate new restaurant development across the Southeast.”

Atlanta-based Argonne Capital Group LLC bought the mini-burger chain in March. The company shared its plans for the brand with Atlanta Business Chronicle in June.

Founded in Chattanooga by the Davenport family in 1932, Krystal now has about 350 restaurants in 11 states. The goal is to add 150 restaurants in the next five years.

Krystal will honor its Chattanooga roots with a museum and 80th anniversary celebration in that city next year.

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