White Castle

White Castle is an American hamburger restaurant chain known for its small, square burgers called sliders. Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921, it is generally credited as the first fast food hamburger chain in the world and remains concentrated in the Midwest and the New York area.

History

The first restaurant opened in Wichita in 1921, run by cook Walter A. Anderson, who had been running food stands there since 1916. Within a few years the chain had spread to other Midwestern cities. In 1926 Anderson partnered with insurance man Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram, who bought him out in 1933 and moved the headquarters to Columbus, Ohio.

In the years after Upton Sinclair's exposé of the meatpacking industry, many Americans were wary of ground beef, so the founders stressed cleanliness with stainless steel interiors, spotless uniforms and white porcelain finishes. The company built its own bakeries, meat plants and warehouses, which was unusual for the young fast food business. Anderson is credited with the bun, though this is not fully documented.

During the Second World War, anti-German feeling reduced demand for hamburgers, and the chain answered with smaller patties sold for five cents. The idea of pricking the patties to speed cooking is credited to an employee in 1949.

Culture

White Castle's square sliders, sold in boxes of 10, 30 or 100, are part of the brand's identity and of the streetscape of the Midwest. Its white buildings with castle motifs became recognisable and inspired many imitators with similar names, such as Little Kastle and Klover Kastle.

The menu includes fries, onion rings, milkshakes, chicken wings and fish bites, along with breakfast. The company also sells frozen products and supermarket lines. In 2014, Time named its slider the most influential burger of all time.