FAQs
The most influential burger of all time, as it was dubbed by Time® Magazine, got its start in 1921 when Billy Ingram used $700 to launch an idea – the first fast food hamburger chain in the world. While the iconic Original Slider® hasn't changed much in 99 years, the business certainly has.
What makes White Castle so special? ›
White Castle Is a Square Patty Pioneer
An employee at a Cincinnati location reportedly recommended putting holes in the patties so they can cook easier without flipping in 1954, which is why White Castle sliders have five holes to this day.
Where is the largest White Castle? ›
Largest White Castle in the world is in Florida, and soon it will be open 24 hours. White Castle, the popular burger hub with locations across the country, opened its very first Florida restaurant in Orlando on May 3, 2021, and it is the largest White Castle in the world.
Why is it called White Castle? ›
The company's new name was symbolic of the product they were offering to the public: “white” for purity and “castle” for strength and stability. On the wall was painted the new slogan “White Castle Hamburgers 5 Cents” along with a catchy slogan Anderson used, “Buy 'em by the Sack.”
What is the history of Whites Castle? ›
White's Castle was built in 1417 for Sir John Talbot, Viceroy of Ireland, and later played a prominent role in the 1640s during the Confederate Wars. It served as a prison for the captured rebels of 1798 and later became a garrison for British troops, a constabulary barracks, and a private residence.
What is the oldest White Castle? ›
Located at 110 West First Street in Wichita, Kansas. Opened in March of 1921, it was the first White Castle to open. It was known as White Castle number 4 because there were three hamburger stands in Wichita under Anderson's ownership.
What is a fun fact about White Castle? ›
White Castle Was The First Fast Food Chain in America
The result was a ringing success, leading them to start opening shops outside of Wichita as early as 1922. Even though fish and chip stands had existed in England since the 1860s, White Castle was the first American establishment to catch on.
What is the slogan for White Castle? ›
This is a poster advertising White Castle restaurants with the slogan "Good Yesterday, Better Today, Still Better Tomorrow, White Castle Hamburgers, Buy 'em by the Sack." White Castle restaurants, famous for coffee and hamburgers, were founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1921.
What did White Castle invented? ›
Billy Ingram opened White Castle in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921, selling the iconic little burgers the family-owned business has become famous for. So easy to eat, they were dubbed "Sliders" and sold by the sack. Billy Ingram moved White Castle to Columbus in 1934 after buying out Anderson's share of the business.
How many White Castles are left? ›
How many White Castle restaurants are there in the United States? As of February, 2024, there are 363 White Castle restaurants in the United States. These restaurants are located in 15 states and territories and 216 cities.
There are 350 White Castle restaurants in the United States as of March 12, 2024. The state and territory with the most number of White Castle locations in the US is Illinois, with 59 restaurants, which is about 17% of all White Castle restaurants in the US.
Where is the original White Castle? ›
Why does White Castle have 5 holes? ›
The crave-worthy sliders have five holes in the patties. According to CBS News, this is so the burger can be thoroughly cooked through faster without having to flip it over. The idea to incorporate these holes came from an employee suggestion back in 1954.
Who was first White Castle or McDonald's? ›
White Castle started in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas — decades before competitors McDonald's or Restaurant Brands International's Burger King arrived on the scene. White Castle laid the groundwork for those chains, and it played a key role in making the hamburger synonymous with American cuisine.
Who invented White Castle? ›
The Kansas chain created a playbook for American fast food. White Castle System, Inc. White Castle founders Walt Anderson and Billy Ingram stand next to two automobiles outside of White Castle number 10, located at 318 West Douglas Avenue in Wichita, Kansas.
What is castle known for? ›
Scholars usually consider a castle to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble. This is distinct from a mansion, palace and villa, whose main purpose was exclusively for pleasance and are not primarily fortresses but may be fortified.
When did White Castle become popular? ›
In 1947, White Castle modified its famous Slider, adding five holes to speed cooking and add flavor. In 1961, White Castle became the first fast-food restaurant to sell 1 billion hamburgers. In 1962, White Castle began serving cheese Sliders, the first new item to grace its menu since it opened in 1921.
