News

Wednesday, December 30 2009

White Castle Slydes Into the New Year with Price Rollback on Popular Meals

(Detroit, MI) – White Castle restaurants all over the Detroit region are rolling back prices on their most popular “Sack Meals” to say Happy New Year to its loyal cravers. For a limited time, customers can save from $.38 to $1.52 when they buy selected Sack Meals identified with promotional messaging at all Detroit White Castle restaurants. Their distinctively packaged Crave Case, filled with 30 hot, delicious Original Sliders® is included in the price rollback.

“We wanted to thank our loyal customers for their years of patronage, and invite new folks in to try our great tasting food as well. We know White Castle has always been a tasty, reasonably priced meal choice. What better time than now to make our unique products available for a little less money,” said Bob Harrison, regional director of restaurant operations for Detroit.

White Castle owns and operates over 400 restaurants in 11 states. For those cravers not living within easy reach of a White Castle restaurant, our hamburgers can be found in the frozen food section of grocery stores across the country.

Monday, November 16 2009

White Castle Shows How to Stuff It!!

White Castle Recipe Book “By the Sackful” on Sale Now for $5 at House of Crave

(Columbus, OH) – Since it was first published in 1996 in the “Cravetime Cookbook”, the White Castle Turkey Stuffing recipe has stuffed the cavities of thousands of birds for family Thanksgiving dinners across the country. The quick, easy, tasty concoction is the perfect answer for busy cooks. Now you can stuff your turkey and your holiday stockings – with the turkey stuffing recipe and the latest White Castle recipe book, on sale now at House of Crave.

Here’s the recipe:

• 10 White Castle hamburgers, pickle removed
• 1 ½ cups diced celery
• 1 ¼ teaspoon each ground thyme and ground sage
• 1 ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• ¼ cup chicken broth

Tear burgers into small pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. Add celery and seasonings. Toss and add chicken broth. Toss well.
Stuff cavity of turkey just before roasting. Makes about 9 cups, enough for a 10 – 12 lb. turkey. Note: Allow one White Castle hamburger for each pound of turkey, which will be the equivalent of ¾ cup of stuffing per pound.

The stuffing recipe was developed in 1990 and evolved into the company’s first recipe contest in 1991, followed by its first recipe book, the “Cravetime Cookbook” in 1996. “Thinking Outside the Box – The White Castle 10th Annual Crave Time Cookbook 2001” and “By the Sackful: A Scrapbook with Recipes from 85 Years of White Castle Craving” are follow-up recipe compilations published by White Castle, thanks to ongoing craver submissions of recipes using 10 White Castle hamburgers. “By the Sackful” is available for purchase at www.houseofcrave.com for just $5.00 – a perfect holiday stocking stuffer. All winning recipe contest entries can be seen here

“It’s really quite magical and surprising the number of different kinds of recipes we have received over the years,” said Kim Bartley, White Castle VP of marketing. “It is truly amazing what our loyal cravers have come up with using just ten burgers.”

Proceeds from the sale of the White Castle 2005 recipe book “By the Sackful” go to Turkeys 4 America, a non-profit organization that provides turkeys for Thanksgiving to those who otherwise would not be able to afford to buy their own turkey.

White Castle owns and operates 419 restaurants in 11 states. All White Castle restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009. For those cravers not living within easy reach of a White Castle restaurant, our hamburgers can be found in the frozen food section of grocery stores across the country.

Tuesday, November 10 2009

Cravers Find Fame in the Hallowed Halls of White Castle

Nine to be Inducted into White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame Today

(Columbus, OH) – White Castle will induct 9 new members at its ninth annual Cravers Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the White Castle home office, 555 West Goodale Street, Columbus, OH, 43215, Thursday, November 12, 2009, at 2:00 p.m.

Coming from as close as Indiana and as far away as California, the nine new members were chosen from an entry pool of over 500 this year. Since 2001, a total of 67 Hall of Fame members have been chosen from 6,629 entries, making this an elite group. They join the likes of John Cho and Kal Penn of “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle”; former pastor of the Greek Orthodox Catholic Church in Columbus, OH, Father John Stavropoulos; members of the band The Smithereens; and Steven Luch and his pot bellied pig, Nips, from Detroit, MI.

White Castle president and CEO Bill Ingram will preside over the festivities where commemorative plaques will be presented to each new member at the 2:00 p.m. ceremony at the Home Office. Winners also receive an array of White Castle gifts specially packaged in a “Crave Crate”, a box designed to hold 100 of The Original Slider® signature hamburger sandwiches. A gala evening banquet will be held at The Ohio Historical Society where there is a permanent White Castle exhibit honoring its history as a long-time business enterprise in the state. Winners are brought to the White Castle home office at the company’s expense.

The 2009 winners are Thomas Teslicka from Acworth, GA; Chris Breseman from St. Louis, MO; The Castro Family from Hanford, CA; Dick Gardner from Cottage Grove, MN; Steven Pliskow from Wellington, FL; Jim Kreml from Elk River, MN; Willy Velikly from Flemington, NJ; Steven Brown from Columbus, IN; and Logan Ward from Germantown, TN.

Their stories follow in their entirety.

A Country Kid’s Crave
This story started way back in the war year 1943. Our family was transferred to St. Paul, Minnesota when our dad was in an essential industry for the American Railroad industry. With a wife, four sons, a railcar full of possessions, dad embarked on a finding a new home, job and totally different city living versus North Dakota small prairie town living. Because the train brought all of us to St. Paul at five a.m. in the morning, breakfast was a White Castle nearby, which had great coffee, rolls, baked bean crocks and great little hamburgers.

The sight of four hungry kids, weary from overnight travel must have been remarkable to the staff at the Castle 25 (then the old mini-Castle) downtown, it is now gone. The fours boys were mesmerized at the two grills of thirty hamburgers steaming away behind the glass. That Castle had six or eight stools, a stand-up perimeter window counter and the usual take-out station. The price of one slider was a mere twelve cents. Just watching the operator smoothing out the bed of onions, placing the thirty meat patties on the now bubbling bed of aromatic goodness, topped with the buns…made the boys’ anticipation almost unbearable. Finally, it all came out on nice heavy China plates, steaming hot, making Minnesota’s newest citizens a banquet on a budget that is talked about even to this day.

Now, at seventy-four years of age, I cannot drive by a White Castle. The sixty-something price is no barrier at this stage of our lives, the coffee is still the best on the planet and the people who are your storefront greeters, make every trip like another trip back home, back in 1943. Ironically, I grew up to be a Railway Express delivery truck driver in St. Paul in 1955. Yes, two of my stops were the first White Castle of my memory, and the University Avenue at Lexington store. Because the hamburger buns were baked in St. Louis back then, every morning I would get my truck fully loaded with the large master cartons of fresh baked Castle buns.

The bosses would load up my truck, slap a handful of waybills in my hand and tell me “get those buns out to the White Castles…fast!” I did what I was told. On very cold mornings, I would back up closely to the delivery kitchen doors, rush the bun boxes inside then relish a most welcome hot coffee and often a handful of hot sliders or a breakfast Danish. Nothing has changed. The “old timers” that recall my visits, now mostly retired or gone, would remind me often of those great homey visits. To this day, I feel more like an employee or family member than a customer. I carry a small bank in my Toyota to this day, often bailing out the shift managers at Castle 25 when change gets scarce.

During the thirty years traveling with the Harmonicats (the Original Worldly Famous trio that recorded a twenty-million hit recording “Peg O’ My Heart”) my eyes would always search for a White Castle, especially when in the Eastern half of the country. What an adventure! I treated some fans to hamburgers on Long Island, NY to the west suburbs of Chicago-land. All were remarkable, somewhat different, but all very well run and enjoyed by the Harmonicats and their many fans and friends. I would often mention the Castle from the stage, evoking lots of comments during and after the shows. I really became your unofficial ambassador, and own the title to this day.

Under the strong guidance of “Super Woman” Heidi Kachel (general manager) the tradition of hot food, great service and welcoming traditions continue. When the original corner location was replaced with a new building, I took it on myself to photograph virtually every brick that came down in demolishing the old building, which was like Fort Knox, one contractor told me. Yes, I have a photo of the first customers, a senior couple, enjoying their favorite treat. The entire photo collection was put on a CD and given to the managers. Long live the White Castle legends!
-Dick Gardner from Cottage Grove, MN

His Ultimate Crave
My first memories of White Castle date back to the late 1950’s, when I was a young boy. What a treat it was for my parents to drive us from Columbus, Indiana to Indianapolis just for some Castles. I have fond memories of and remember our family always looking forward to these trips. The special trips north for Castles continued over the years as I had a family of my own. My children seemed to enjoy them as much as I did. Eating them in the car on the way home was fun for everyone. When I learned that a White Castles would be built in Columbus, Indiana I was ecstatic. No more trips to Indianapolis as we were going to have our own White Castle!
I have been frequenting White Castle number 23 two, sometimes three times per day since its opening in 1983. Every day before and after work it’s a stop for coffee; I love White Castle coffee. On my days off work it may be a third trip for some Sliders.

While on vacation, I find myself looking for White Castle restaurants so as not to extend any withdrawal symptoms. I have adjusted my route frequently in order to hit a White Castle on the road. I often reward my associates at my work with a ten sack or a Crave Case for a special occasion or a job well done. They are always pleased and appreciative. Occasionally I take a few Castles and onion chips to my 93 year old mom. After all these years she still has the Crave. For her it’s the flavor of the Original Slider with no cheese please.
Holidays bring me an ample supply of Craver gift cards from family and friends. It’s no surprise to my daughters when they ask me where I would like to have my birthday lunch I respond “White Castle.” I own a White Castle ball cap and a Slyder Fest tee shirt as well as have collected all the coffee mugs that have been available for purchase at the Columbus, Indiana Castle. On several occasions I have tried the customer holiday recipes, even coming up with my own recipes at home.

Over the years I have come to know the Columbus White Castle management and team members on a first base basis. Many times as I enter I hear “Steve’s here start a fresh pot” or “We saw you pull in, we have already started a fresh pot for you.” Besides being a true Craver, it’s the customer recognition that brings me back as well as the quality and service. It is always fresh and hot! White Castle affects my life every day. It’s a priority. I love my White Castle. It’s what I Crave. Perhaps I should consider an application for employment.
-Steven Brown from Columbus, IN

Home Away from Home
On a recent trip back to Chicago (which is where we are originally from) my wife, kids and I stopped at the Merrillville, Indiana White Castle on I-65 to pick up our usual Crave Case plus a few extra cheeseburgers and fries. It was while we were standing in line for our order that I noticed the information about the Cravers Hall of Fame so I figured “what the heck, I grew up with White Castle I will give it a try…how hard could it be.” Well, let me tell you, this has not been an easy task, as I have found myself writing and re-writing this story several times now and every time I would try to write my story, it would bring back so many memories and emotions that it really became hard to write. I never realized until I started writing this, just how much White Castle has been a part of my life.

It all started back when I was about six years old when White Castle was a very special and magical place for me, because it was where my grandfather would take me for our special time together every Saturday morning. I would wait on the stoop of our house for my grandfather to pick me up, and off we’d go to the White Castle on Manheim Road and Grand Avenue in Franklin Park, Illinois. That’s where I grew up. At the Castle I would get my four cheeseburgers on the white China plate and a chocolate shake. Sometimes my grandfather would let me get six cheeseburgers. That was a treat. The time we would spend together there was just magical and I still have a hard time even today at 56 years old, going into a White Castle without seeing me and my grandfather sitting there together.
My grandfather was everything to me, and that tradition continued until about seven years ago when my grandfather was put into a nursing home, which by the way was just down the street from the Franklin Park White Castle. So now it was my turn to stop and pick up a sack of White Castles and go see my Pop. Of course, when he’d see me he’d get a big smile on his face and say “Did you get my sliders Tom?” and I’d say “yes Pop I got them.” That was the last thing I remember him saying to me, for he passed away shortly after that.

That same White Castle became like a second home to me all through my teen years, and especially once I started driving. I went to High School in Franklin Park at East Leyden High and White Castle was our hangout spot. I took all my buddies there, heck I would even take my dates there. I especially remember when our church youth group would head over for sliders after our youth meetings, and we would line the back window of my 1969 mustang with as many empty slider boxes we could. And man, that smell of White Castles would be in my car all week long.

It was shortly after my grandfather passed away, that my father died. My mom had the wake and funeral at the Franklin Park funeral home, which was right across the street from White Castle. For those three days, I can’t tell you how many sliders my brothers and I put away. I still can’t believe how much of my youth was spent at that Castle in Franklin Park, Illinois. Shortly after my dad’s passing, when my wife and I got married and I finished college, I was hired by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), as the mid-west facilities manager for 304 stores, where I worked out of both the Chicago and Louisville corporate offices. I would find myself driving back and forth between Chicago and Louisville sometimes twice a week. So, to help me with that drive I would stop at the White Castle on I-65 just south of Indianapolis, where I would get my four double cheeseburgers, six cheeseburgers and a chocolate shake…that would be just enough to get me to my destination. That tradition continued without variation for seven years.

Here I was working for KFC, but I had to have my White Castles. After leaving KFC due to illness, I went to work for the Wheaton School District in Wheaton, Illinois and worked with my best friend at the school district and again, White Castle played a major part in my life. That White Castle became our home away from home for Tom and me. We made it a tradition that every Friday about six of us would head to the White Castle in Carol Stream, where I continued with my tradition of four double cheeseburgers, six cheeseburgers and a chocolate shake (gee, there seems to be a pattern here!). Tom and I shared some good memories there until recently when unexpectedly, Tom passed away. He was only six months older than me, and together we shared some great memories and White Castle, again, was a big part of that. Both Tom and I loved to fish, so we always made sure before leaving to go fishing, we would stop for a sack (or two) regardless of what time it was.

About that same time, my wife was given a devastating double blow, as first she lost her mother to Alzheimer’s and then was diagnosed herself with breast cancer. It was during those difficult times that we left the Chicago area and moved to be with her sister in the Atlanta area, which was her mother’s dying wish. That brings us to the present. No one ever told us that there were no White Castles in Georgia.

What would we now do without our White Castles? We were so desperate we went online to find the nearest location. Well, it turns out that the nearest White Castle is in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which by the way is just a little over a three-hour drive, one way. But you know what? When you’ve got to have one, you’ve got to have one or should I say a sack. We of course (my wife, kids and I) make that three-hour drive to get a Crave Case and a few extra cheeseburgers, we then head back to the Atlanta area where we eat sliders all week. I’m the envy of all the guys at work at lunch, I pull out my White Castle sliders but I don’t share! I enjoy the fact that I have been able to share my love for White Castle with my kids and to hand that tradition down to them. They also know better than to touch my double cheeseburgers because I tell them “I don’t care if they sit in the fridge for a week, no one touches my double cheeseburgers.”

As I said in the beginning, I have written and re-written this story several times and every time there would be something else I would remember and then a flood of emotions would come over me. I never realized until I started writing this, how White Castle has been a major part of my life and even if nothing comes of my story, it has brought back incredible memories of those who are now gone from my life, those who are still here and all the special times I’ve had with family and friends growing up with White Castle.

Thank you White Castle for a lifetime of wonderful memories and great food! I’ve found myself choking back a few tears several times while writing this, but again it has helped me remember those who I have loved, those who are gone and we all had one thing in common, we all loved White Castle!
-Thomas Teslicka from Acworth, Georgia

Midnight Run
My name is Jim Kreml and I am forty-five years old and have been a loyal White Castle Craver my entire life. The name of my story is Midnight Run and it is about me and my best friend Don. As a child growing up in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, my friend Don and I would sleep out in our tent just about every weekend un the summer, and about 65% of the time as midnight drew we would sneak out of our tent, get on our bikes and make the eighteen mile round trip journey to the Brooklyn Park White Castle location. Back then the burgers were a dime! Don and I would each get a sack full and ride back to our tent before anyone even knew we were gone! The world was sure a different place back then, a lot safer and a lot more innocent…I’m afraid to say we probably wouldn’t be able to make that “Midnight Run” today.

I am saddened to say that Don’s mom passed away on July 24th, 2009 – she was eighty-five y ears old. I got to spend some time with Don shortly after his mom’s passing and I took him to White Castle for lunch. We sat in the restaurant, remembering her and all the times we snuck out of our tent to make that Midnight Run. We laughed about how made she would have been at us had she caught us before we got back to our tent. We made that run fro about six years, from 6th grade to graduation and although our bikes turned into cars that final year, it was a time in our lives that we will never forget. Being with Don at that White Castle in that moment brought back some cherished memories of a simpler time, when two boys could get on their bikes in the middle of the night without worry and ride about eighteen miles to get Castles and cheeseburgers.
You see to us, White Castle is more than just a place to eat; it truly is a big part of our lives and even if it was just for a moment or two at lunch, being together at our favorite place helped us cope, reflect, smile and laugh. I’m sure Don would agree with me when I say “thank you for being a part of our lives, the happy and the sad.”
-Jim Kreml from Elk River, Minnesota.

Tale of the Manburger
I am Willy Veliky and I represent the embodiment of the White Castle spirit and a lifetime of devotion to Sliders, especially double cheeseburgers. While many can point to a Castle moment or individual experience, I have moments by the sack. Sure, there were the early days when good parentage provided me with regular visits to the original Castles at five points in Union and Elmora Avenue in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Many a late night was capped off with a Castle Chug (you get the idea) and a fish with cheese chaser. But it was only after I came into my own that my cravings took flight. Maybe it the cross-country trip where we went 200 miles off-course just to see the Castle in St. Louis. Or when I bribed one of the employees at the Edison Castle to sell me his hat – and remember this was back in the old days when the only way to get authentic Castle gear was to work there.

Then there was the personal Valentine’s Day celebration with tablecloth, flowers and china – hey that was five years before the geniuses over there in the marketing department got paid to think of it! But what ultimately sets me apart from your average White Castle fanatic is the Tale of the Manburger. Hearing that a new White Castle was opening in Greenbrook, NJ, I laid out my plan. Yes, I was going to be there for opening day and sure I would be the first one in line, but the culmination of my plan was my homemade Castle gear that I was photographed by a local newspaper – the newspaper that gave me my now legendary moniker. Well, I Willy Manburger Veliky, am now fifty and as long as they keep building Castles – both the building and the burgers – I will be happy to resurrect my starring role and give each and any of them their opening props.
-Willy Veliky from Flemington, NJ.

The Castro Family Miracle
I would like to introduce you to my brother, Ssgt Theyer Castro who is the youngest of nine siblings born and raised in Queens, New York. On July 6, 2009, Theyer who was stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi was in a horrific car accident. He was pinned in his SUV and had to be extracted with the jaws of life. The car was totaled and he was rushed to the hospital by am balance and was given 72 hours to live due to his traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma, unresponsive and placed on a ventilator.

Still in a coma after three weeks in Hattiesburg, he was finally airlifted from Forrest General Hospital ICU in Mississippi to the VA Palo Alto facilities ICU in California. At a family conference meeting with the doctors on August 24, 2009 one doctor said “He is still in a coma and is not showing any signs of purposeful movement and on the Glasgow coma scale he is at a one.” This was very low. He went on to say “his ability to swallow is down to once every six minutes, which is not enough to remove the feeding tube due to his inability to swallow.” Needless to say, the family was disappointed to hear such discouraging news about our little brother. One of Theyer’s sisters Shumbey (who was on the conference call) was especially sad as she was at the airport on her way to Palo Alto with her brother’s favorite food in tow…White Castle hamburgers. She was very anxious to see her brother. The last time she saw him, he was in Hattiesburg on a ventilator fighting for his life.

Around noon on August 25, Shumbey arrived and got the chance to see her beloved brother Theyer and to bring him his favorite food in the world (and believe me he has been all over the world, as he is in the Air Force and he personally loves to travel and eat). She removed the Slider from its box and placed it under his nose, the next thing she knew he inhaled and then exhaled. Suddenly, his mouth started flexing, he started swallowing and moving his lips as though he had just took a big bite of his favorite burger. Then surprisingly after a few minutes he broke through his coma and said “Hello everyone.” His niece burst into tears and bolted for the door and began hyperventilating. The doctor and a social worker who happened to be in the hallway outside his room rushed in thinking something was wrong with Theyer. His niece Sarina (Shumbey’s daughter) could not speak as she was still in shock. Theyer’s mother told her to calm down and keep her composure because she, like the doctors thought something terrible happened to Theyer. She finally whispered “Theyer spoke to me!” At this time the room was flooded with doctors, nurses and social workers. They could not believe what happened, because just the day before we were told that he is unresponsive and is in a vegetative state.

When I received the call from my mother telling me the story about the White Castle hamburger and how he broke through his come because of his love for them, I said I had to call the White Castle headquarters and thank them for helping our family member come back to us.

On behalf of the entire Castro family, we thank you for your unwavering commitment to providing those delicious burgers that a lot of America has grown up with. Without those honored traditional recipes, who knows how long it would have taken my brother to come back to us. So, we collectively say keep doing what you are doing and don’t change a thing.
-On behalf of the Castro family: Theyer Castro and his sister Gretchen Straker.

The Continuous Crave
White Castle has been a huge part of my life for as long as I remember. My story begins at the age of 5 until age 10 when I accompanied my father to work every Saturday and we would have breakfast and lunch at the White Castle across the street. It was my first introduction to the Original Slider and began the love affair that continues till today.

Though my dad is no longer with us I can still remember how he enjoyed those orange donuts. From age 11 until I was 16 (just old enough to ride the city bus alone), I convinced my parents to let me take the 30 minute ride each way to enjoy my Slyders at the closest White Castle to my home. Once I was able to drive, I managed to eat at each and every White Castle in the New York Metropolitan area. After I went away to college and medical school, I still took the trek 2 hours each way to enjoy my Slyders at least twice a month.

Since then, I have moved to Florida but the crave continues. I still take the time away from my busy medical practice to make frequent trips to New York to satisfy the crave. I remember one of the trips to New York, I was almost late to my dad’s funeral because there was a line at White Castle and I had to satisfy the craving before giving the eulogy.

One time, I was traveling from West Palm Beach to Buffalo via Cincinnati and due to a delay, I missed my connecting flight. I had to rent a car and drive through the night to get to Buffalo. I made sure that my trip took me through Columbus, Ohio, the home of the Castle, where at 2a.m. I was once again enjoying my White Castle hamburgers. I have collected, over the years, numerous vintage mugs and plates from the original restaurants. I would be ecstatic to be a member of the Cravers Hall of Fame; honoring something I have loved for all of my life.
-Steven Pliskow, MD from Wellington, Florida

The Crave is forever!
My name is Logan Ward and I have craved White Castle hamburgers as long as I can remember. My story starts as a child of the sixties and seventies living in Louisville. Back in the day, more mothers stayed home with their children than they do these days. With that, moms would prepare dinner nearly every night for the family. My mom stayed home and on the occasion when she did not fix supper, we would go out to eat. I was five years old at the time and I’m sure we had been out to eat many times before but I must not have remembered the experience.

My first memory of eating out was with my dad taking the family to White Castle. I had no idea what White Castle was about and did not know what to expect. On the way in my dad’s black 1958 Chevy, he told us that White Castle had these little square hamburgers and told us stories of how he would go there in high school and 15 to 20 of these burgers. My dad told us that he loved these little burgers so much and was sure that we would too. We went to the seventh street location in Louisville. The building was gleaming white and very clean looking. When we got our burgers, I thought how cool it was that they came in those little boxes. I remember that the boxes reminded us to not be a litter bug and I had to ask my dad was that meant. Upon taking the burger out of the box, I remember how hot and steamy it was. My first bite was an experience I will never forget. The onions, the mustard, the soft bun and of course the square meat were a fantastic eating delight. I was hooked on the very first bite.

I don’t remember how many Sliders I had that night, but I do remember that I fell in love with those little burgers. Funny how some of life’s greatest memories become burned in your mind forever. I had no idea at the time what life changing experience this moment would become. The Crave had begun. For the next ten years, every time we went out to eat I would always ask to go to White Castle. From my mom and dad to all of my aunts, uncles and grandparents, I always begged them to take me to White Castle when we were out. From taking Sliders to the drive-in to eating them with my grandpa in his old ’55 Ford, I have so many great memories of going to the Castle. I even rode my bike to the seventh street location on a couple of occasions. I guess it is alright to tell my parents about it now. They would have grounded me for months if they had known how far I rode my bike to White Castle. (A check on an online map provider says it is a 4.9 mile journey).

In 1975, my dad was transferred to Chicago, we lived in Naperville. My Crave slowed as the closest Castle was in somewhere south of Naperville. We never got out there much. So needless to say, I was pretty upset. The only thing that was able to ease my Crave was that we had to travel back to Louisville every month or two for my sister to get her medical check-ups as she had a condition since birth. She was doing fine, but my Crave continued. A year later in 1976 my dad was transferred yet again to Memphis. Once more, one of my main concerns was White Castle. Were there any in Memphis? Would my Crave be stopped? As it turned out, there were not any locations in Memphis. There was just some rip-off company thinking they knew how to cook a Slider. Yuck! The closest Original Slider place for me was in Nashville. For a little while, we still went back to Louisville for my sister and would stop in Nashville along the way for the sole purpose of getting some Castles. But when the doctor released her, our visits to Louisville stopped and so did my White Castle visits. For about a year, my Castle visits were sparse. My dad would bring some Sliders home when he went to Nashville, but I needed more.

In 1977, I got my ’73 Mustang and had freedom at last! Gas was cheap and so were my wages. According to my dad, I was supposed to stay in Memphis for insurance reasons while driving. I still don’t know if that is true, but now with my car, I did not always stay around Memphis. About once every four to six weeks, I would go to Nashville to get me some White Castles. I would eat 15 to 20 and then bring some home for later. Of course I had to hide them from my parents. We didn’t have a microwave, so I ate the ones I brought home cold. They were still so good and with that, my Crave lived.
I now live in Germantown, Tennessee which is a suburb of Memphis. There are still no White Castles here and the closest one is on White Bridge in Nashville. I have had many dreams over the years that White Castle came to Memphis, but then I wake up cravenly disappointed. Frozen Castles help fill the Crave gap, but nothing beats hot, steamy, fresh hot off the grill Sliders. It is 196.1 miles from my house to the Castle in Nashville but I go there about every month to six weeks. The great thing now is that my two brothers live in the Nashville area and they bring me forty to fifty Castles every time they come home to visit. A few weeks ago, my little brother needed to borrow some computer equipment from me. I told him it was going to cost him. He said he knew it would and asked me how many Castles I wanted him to bring. I also have my friends and business associates bring me sliders when the come to Memphis from Nashville. It is so ingrained with my friends that I don’t even have to ask them any more.

I have been to New York and had Castles with ketchup and St. Louis and had them with the horseradish mustard. I even stop at that old seventh street location in Louisville whenever I can get back there. I have been to over fifty locations everywhere between New York and St. Louis and I love them all, but nothing beats Castles with Dusseldorf mustard from Louisville and Nashville. For me, no trip north is complete without multiple jaunts to the Castle. Most folks don’t understand my Crave. They don’t realize there is a difference between White Castles and the so-called competitors. Some, I have been able to sway while others I have not. Poor lost souls…
For over 45 years now, many things have changed but White Castles still taste out of this world. My Crave is as intense as ever and I am always trying to find new avenues in which to feed and satisfy it. White Castle is a huge part of me and my life. In fact, Castles are me…the Crave is forever!
- Logan Ward from Germantown, TN.

Wishing For Sliders in Kuwait
I have craved White Castle ever since taking my first delicious bite of one after moving back to the USA from Germany as a little kid (my dad was in the Army) in November, 1989. I had every occasion I could think of as White Castle, from Birthdays to even Christmas dinner sometimes. I made up excuses to eat at White Castle as a little kid. I remember my prom date looking at me like I was nuts when we pulled into White Castle for those little tasty Sliders before and after prom.

Later in life I entered the US Air Force and moved to a place with no White Castles, I was devastated that I couldn’t eat my tasty Sliders whenever I wanted (usually every day). I had my parents mail me Sliders overnight just so I could have some (YES they were OK and not spoiled). When I would go back home, my first stop across the Ohio bridge into Louisville would be White Castle, and I would always order ten Sliders (no cheese), ten with cheese, some fries and a Coke. I would show up to my parents house with a stomach full of Sliders and the happiest person on earth. Then, of course dinner would be ready and I already ate mine so mom would be a little mad, but oh well I had my Sliders!

My first deployment was over to Kuwait for thirty days and I didn’t know how I’d survive thirty days without a Slider…Mom would overnight them to me at least once a week when I was stateside, but mailing them to Kuwait was impossible. I survived, barely. I staggered into the White Castle when I got back stateside and showed down for a goof two hours on Sliders. The employees must have thought I was nuts, but there I was, in full BDU’s eating away and happier than ever.

While in service, I was shot and ended up in a coma for about a month and a half. My first request when I woke up was for White Castle. Of course they weren’t allowed in my diet quite yet. But when they were, there I was in the hospital eating away Sliders, fries and a Coke. I am now out of the US Air Force because of my gunshot wound, and moved to St. Louis, Missouri, right next door to a White Castle. I make it a daily occurrence to eat at least five Sliders and I am the fittest and happiest I have ever been. I wouldn’t know what to do without them now that they are so much a part of my life. I look for other places to live and then think of the distance between me and my Sliders and diced that I am just fine where I am (even though it is a little bit of a dumpy apartment). Thank you White Castle!
-Chris Breseman from St. Louis, MO.

Founded in 1921 as the nation’s first fast food hamburger chain, White Castle remains a family owned, privately held enterprise. Today with 421 restaurants around the country, company emphasis remains on philanthropic efforts with the potential to “make a difference in the lives of others.”

Monday, July 27 2009

Three “Craver Saver” Meals, $2.99 Each, Now at White Castle

(Columbus, OH) – July 27, 2009 – For White Castle Cravers who are watching their budgets, here’s the latest. Now through August 22, White Castle is offering three different “Craver Saver” meals for cost conscious consumers looking for a unique-tasting treat. Choose from beef, chicken or pork! The White Castle Craver Saver meals include three Original Sliders®, or two pulled pork sliders, or two chicken ring sandwiches with cheese. Each meal comes with a Saver Size Fry and Saver Size soft drink.

“Priced at $2.99 each, these meals include either three of our original signature hamburgers, or two of our highly successful new pulled pork sliders or two of our chicken ring sandwiches with cheese, which is a very popular menu item that is not available at any other QSR,” said Kim Bartley, VP marketing. “With the Saver Size Fry and Saver Size soft drink, these meals are the perfect tasty way to satisfy your White Castle cravings at a very reasonable price.”

Television, radio, point of purchase and digital advertising supports the promotion that kicked off Sunday, July 26. Most White Castle restaurants are open 24 hours.

The annual White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame is now soliciting entries for the 2009 competition. Go to the Hall of Fame for details. But hurry, entries are due by August 31, 2009.

In addition to White Castle’s signature 100% beef Slider, other unique menu offerings include a tasty variety of meal options like signature chicken rings, cheese sticks, onion rings and onion chips. White Castle’s breakfast sandwiches are made from real eggs and are available during breakfast time periods that vary among its markets of operation.

White Castle, home of “The Original Slider®” was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. For more information go to whitecastle.com or call 1-800-THE-CRAVE.

Thursday, June 25 2009

“The Original Slider” Now Available in Marion, Indiana

White Castle Grand Opening Set for Sunday June 28

(Indianapolis, IN) – June 25, 2009 – White Castle announces the grand opening of its 41st location in the Indianapolis region at 3622 S. Western Avenue, Marion, Indiana, 46953.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 9:00 a.m,. to celebrate the arrival of “The Original Slider®” to Marion. As a special treat to those who arrive early, the first 100 paying customers will receive coupons good for ten free White Castle hamburgers.

The new location will provide 40-45 new jobs and will serve Marion White Castle Cravers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The 2500+ square foot brick building has a drive-thru and indoor seating for 50 guests.

A “Dignitary Day”, designated by Mayor Wayne Seybold and the Marion Chamber of Commerce, will be observed on Friday, June 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. White Castle wanted to invite business leaders from the community to a sneak preview of the new restaurant and its many tasty menu items. “It’s a great way to get to meet our business neighbors,” said regional director of restaurant operations, Dave Dore. “We’re very proud to be a part of the Marion community.”

Following the “Dignitary Day” will be a “Family Day”, Saturday, June 27, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to honor the families of the new team members who will operate the new White Castle restaurant. “Our people are our most important asset,” said Dore. “Whenever we open a new location, we encourage our team members to invite their families to our Family Day events. This is a wonderful way to let the families know about the jobs that the team members are responsible for.”

White Castle has nearly 420 locations in cities across the Midwest and Northeast including Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, New Jersey, New York City and St. Louis.

White Castle recently introduced more environmentally friendly brown paper sacks and Crave Cases in place of the former white sacks. White Castle prides itself on its environmentally conscious initiatives.

White Castle, home of “The Original Slider®” was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. For more information go to whitecastle.com or call 1-800-THE-CRAVE.

Monday, June 15 2009

The Original Slider® Celebrates Its 88th Birthday

(Columbus, OH) – June 15, 2009 – It all started way back in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas in a 5-stool hamburger stand. Billy Ingram and Walt Anderson created a business that they probably didn’t anticipate would still be in operation in the year 2009.

White Castle has definitely stood the test of time, having been in continuous operation, even during the Depression years when some, but not all, of its locations closed. After buying out Anderson in 1934, Billy Ingram moved the company to Columbus, Ohio and continued to build the White Castle system using the slogan, “Serving the finest products, at the least cost, in the cleanest surroundings, with the most courteous personnel.”

Over ten family members are currently involved in the business. The modern company credo reads “Our quest is excellence and standard setting leadership in each of our industries.” The company owns and operates nearly 420 restaurants, three bakeries, three meat processing plants, two frozen product plants and three metal forming/e-coating and powder coating manufacturing facilities.

White Castle is celebrating its 88th year in business by inviting customers in for specially priced options on its famous Original Slider®, including an 88 cent double cheeseburger and a sack of ten regular sliders for $4.88 in selected markets.

“We decided that it was appropriate to promote affordable meal options during these tough economic times,” said VP marketing, Kim Bartley. “We’ve built our business on very unique-tasting, value priced menu items. The Original Slider® continues to be the fast food users choice when nothing else will satisfy the cravings for our one-of-a-kind steam grilled on a bed of onions taste.”

Television, radio, print and digital advertising supports the promotion that kicked off Sunday, June 14. Most White Castle restaurants are open 24 hours.

In addition to White Castle’s signature 100% beef slider, other unique menu offerings include a tasty variety of meal options like signature chicken rings, cheese sticks, onion rings and onion chips. White Castle’s breakfast sandwiches are made from real eggs and are available during breakfast time periods that vary among its markets of operation.

White Castle, home of “The Original Slider®” was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. For more information go to whitecastle.com or call 1-800-THE-CRAVE.

Monday, May 4 2009

White Castle is official sponsor of National Hamburger Month!

(May 4, 2009) Columbus, OH – May 2009 marks the 17th anniversary for National Hamburger Month. This is the month where our country celebrates America’s favorite food, the hamburger and its original hamburger introduced by White Castle in 1921.

In 1992, White Castle System Inc sponsored National Hamburger Week, which in 1993 was extended to National Hamburger Month. This only seemed right since White Castles started in 1921 and is the first hamburger fast food chain in the United States. With our title of “The original Slider®”, White Castle worked for many years in order to bring our one-of a kind steam grilled hamburgers to cravers everywhere. Whither in one of our castles or in your local grocery stores, White Castle is known for serving the finest quality of burgers from coast to coast.

Customers submit their ultimate Crave story in the 9th annual Cravers Hall of Fame competition to celebrate National Hamburger Month. This is White Castle’s way of thanking our most loyal Cravers of our burgers for our ensuring success. Customers vie for the chance to be inducted into the hallowed Hall along with the likes of members of the rock group The Smithereens and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle stars: John Cho and Kal Penn. Any craver can enter by visiting the Cravers Hall of Fame contest page at The Hall of Fame.

For our loyal team members, the home office staff work side by side in White Castle restaurants to demonstrate their appreciation for our castle employees who work daily to bring our unique taste and variety to our customers, 24 hours a day, 364 days a year. It also gives White Castle home office team members a chance to interact with White Castle cravers, hear their comments and listen to their suggestions. Suppliers and vendor partners also work in the castles this month. In particular, White Castle’s new advertising partner, Zimmerman and Associates, have been out and about working behind the counter as well.

White Castle was founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas.  The company owns and operates 418 units in 11 states and is considered to be the first fast food hamburger restaurant chain. 

Thursday, February 26 2009

White Castle Gives Away 100,000 Free Lunches To Raise Awareness for Childhood Hunger in America

Donation Will Go to Share Our Strength Hunger Charity

(Columbus, OH) – February 26, 2009 – Street teams will distribute “free lunch” brown paper sacks in cities where there are White Castle restaurants starting this Saturday, February 28, to raise awareness for childhood hunger across the country. Teams dressed in White Castle t-shirts and ball caps carrying tote sacks filled with the brown “free lunch” sacks will target various sporting events and business districts.

People can redeem, absolutely free, each “free lunch” sack for a meal at White Castle including three single cheeseburgers, a regular order of fries and a small soft drink. Sack holders will have three days to take advantage of the free lunch, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

White Castle will donate up to $25,000 to Share Our Strength, a national children’s hunger charity. The donation will provide meals for approximately 75,000 children in need. It is estimated that there are 12.4 million children in America at risk of hunger.

Margie Glennon, Communications Director for Share Our Strength said “This couldn’t come at a more important time. Our needs are more critical than ever. We are grateful for the work that White Castle is doing to help raise awareness our cause.” Find out other ways to help at Strength.org.

White Castle has 417 locations in cities across the Midwest and Northeast including Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, New Jersey, New York city and St. Louis.

White Castle recently introduced more environmentally friendly brown paper sacks and Crave Cases in place of the former white sacks. White Castle prides itself on its environmentally conscious initiatives.

White Castle continues to offer its unique, steam grilled Sliders® as a value priced meal alternative. For a limited time starting on Sunday, March 1, Cravers can get “3 for 2 bucks” – any single jalapeno, bacon or regular cheeseburgers for $2 with the purchase of any size side item and soft drink. The promotion will be supported with TV, radio, point of purchase and digital efforts.

White Castle, home of “The Original Slider®” was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. For more information go to WhiteCastle.com" or call 1-800-THE-CRAVE.

Saturday, February 14 2009

WHITE WEDDING SET TO ROCK THE “WHITE” CASTLE!

Epic Recording Artists “White Tie Affair” to Perform at DJX 99.7 Sponsored Event
Donation to YMCA Safe Place of Louisville Gets You in the Door

Louisville, KY – The winners of “Ben and Kelly’s White Wedding at a White Castle” contest are Rosemary Coones, 23, and Clinton Smith, 25, of Louisville. The lucky couple will be married on Saturday, February 14, 2009, Valentine’s Day, 2 p.m. at the White Castle located at First and Market (105 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40209.) The couple entered and won the “White Wedding” contest sponsored by the “Ben Davis and Kelly K Show” on DJX 99.7 radio in Louisville, Kentucky.

Clinton Smith described their selection as the winning couple as “a blessing.” Clinton works nights at a warehouse so that Rosemary can attend classes during the day to become a nurse. They had originally planned to be married at the Otter Creek Park, but those plans fell through when Metro Louisville recently closed the park’s facilities due to the city’s budget shortfall.

Rosemary and Clinton will receive a 1.25 carat white gold wedding set for him and her from Gumer & Company jewelry valued at $5,000; a fully-catered reception featuring White Castle’s Silver Tray service; deluxe Valentine’s Day overnight accommodations at the Galt House Hotel and Suites; a white limo; flowers; wedding photos; hair and make-up; and much more. A complete listing of wedding package details and donating businesses can be found on the radio station’s web site at WDJX.com.

Besides the unusual location, this wedding will break with other nuptial traditions. For one, the cake will resemble a stack of White Castle burgers. And, instead of traditional wedding music, Epic recording artists “White Tie Affair” (as heard on the MTV’s “The Hills”) will perform during the ceremony. The group’s music selection is expected to include the traditional Wedding March and also the song “White Wedding” originally popularized by singer Billy Idol in the 1980s. Packets of salt and pepper will also be thrown at the couple after the ceremony to “season their marriage.”

Wedding has Connection to “Safe Place”

The public is invited to attend the ceremony and reception that follows by making a donation for the YMCA’s Safe Place of Louisville at the door.

“We want to increase the public’s awareness of Safe Place and its services that help teens,” said Judge Byer, who will be performing the wedding ceremony and is also chair of the Board of Directors for Safe Place in Louisville. “The wedding at White Castle is a unique way to capture the public’s attention,” she added.

Safe Place Services is also hosting a catered rehearsal dinner for the coupon on Friday, February 13 at its headquarters on Crittenden Drive in Louisville.

Wednesday, January 7 2009

White Castle Goes Green for the Environment

(January 7, 2009) Columbus, Ohio – White Castle restaurants will introduce new “green” food packaging in all 412 locations over the next few weeks. The formerly white paper sack and white corrugated Crave Cases are going “green” by switching to brown paper and corrugated. The new brown paper sacks are made from 100% recycled material. The new brown Crave Case packaging bears the recyclable icon.

“White Castle has been a responsible steward of the environment for many years in several different aspects of our businesses and operations. This is our most recent commitment to growth of our role in the community – emphasizing the importance of environmental concerns” said marketing vice president Kim Bartley.
White Castle owns and operates three of its own bakeries and employs its own fleet of refrigerated trucks to distribute the flash frozen buns to restaurants in 12 states. They have been committed to reusing and recycling the outer bun cartons since 1965. The White Castle frozen sandwich product is shipped in corrugated cartons bearing the familiar circle of three arrows indicating their recyclable status.

Since 1992, the company has used Duro-Last white roofing for new construction. Warranted for 15 to 20 years, Duro-Last reflects over 86% of the sun’s energy, reducing energy costs. Duro-Last is a charter partner in the ENERGY STAR® Roof Products Program, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
White Castle division PSB Company recycles thousands of pounds of metal each year including stainless, galvanized and cold-rolled. White Castle recycles approximately 1200 pounds of shrink wrap and other recyclable plastics per year.

LED lighting used in 55 White Castle restaurant locations reduced CO2 by 948 tons per year. Each unit retrofit reduces CO2 emissions by 17 tons per year. Annual electricity savings is $2,550 per store from an investment of approximately $10,000 per store.
Plans are underway for more environmentally responsible initiatives including storm water bioretention and use of more green building materials in the construction of restaurant buildings.

White Castle opened its first restaurant in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 and sold its burgers for only 5 cents. White Castle owns and operates 412 restaurants in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, and St. Louis.