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White Castle

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The first White Castle opened in 1921 in Wichita, KS. There are now more than 380 locations. However, very few of the original buildings still exist. For more about the chain, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. There is also a book about White Castle.

Illinois:
former White Castle (Chicago)

former White Castle
Indianapolis, IN
This former White Castle is identified as White Castle #3 on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1927. The building last housed a recruiting office for the Indiana National Guard. It was vacant by 2019. [map]

White Castle
Whiting, IN
This White Castle replaced a building just to the south that was from 1935 and demolished in 2023. The porcelain enamel panels were saved by the Illinois Railway Museum which will recreate the building as part of its Main Street project. The panels are probably from a 1956 remodeling of the building. For more, see this website. [map]

Kansas:
White Castle (Wichita) [vintage; gone]

former White Castle
Detroit, MI
This former White Castle in Detroit was built in 1929. In the 1930s, it became Motts Burgers. Many years later, the name was changed to Motz's Burgers which is what it is known as today. [map]

former White Castle
Minneapolis, MN
This former White Castle, also known as White Castle #8, was built in 1936. The building has housed Castle Jewelers since at least 2002. At some point, the store began featuring accordion sales. These photos are from 2011. The building now houses Jschae Jschae, a vintage clothing store. The design was inspired by Chicago's Water Tower. The building is constructed of rolled steel and is covered with porcelain enamel panels. This was one of the chain's few prefabricated and portable buildings. It was moved in 1983 and 1986. The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

White Castle
Minneapolis, MN
This White Castle is an example of the chain's more modern buildings. It was built in 1978. For more, see this website. [map]

More Minnesota:
White Castle (St. Paul)

New Jersey:
White Castle (North Bergen) [map] [gone; rebuilt]

former White Castle
Orient, OH (now Rolla, MO)
This former White Castle was installed at a private home when these photos were taken in 2009. The owner has a collection of other buildings that were moved here as well. There is a blacksmith shop, a church, a gas station, a railroad depot and a general store. This White Castle building was originally located in Columbus, OH and was moved here in 1986. It has many original fixtures inside. In 2010, it was sold and moved to a private collection in Rolla, MO. I believe this building and the one in Minneapolis described above are the only two White Castles of this style left.

former Teez Cafe
Cincinnati, OH
Although some say that this Teez Cafe building housed a White Castle, it never did. I don't know when this glazed brick was added or if it was original to the building. It was built in 1891 for a produce market. In 1914, it became an auto repair shop. In 1939, it housed a machine shop. From 1940 until the 1970s, it housed the Stop Lite Cafe. It became the Teez Cafe sometime in the 1990s. The building has been vacant for decades. [map]

White Castle Headquarters International [gone]
Columbus, OH
The White Castle Headquarters International building paid tribute to its restaurant design with these porcelain enamel steel panels, stainless steel details, and a central tower. In 1934, White Castle established the Porcelain Steel Building Company in Columbus to produce the steel panels and fixtures for its restaurants. This building had been updated over the years. In 2019, the company moved next door to a new, larger building and this one was demolished. For more, see this website.

White Castle [gone]
Columbus, OH
This White Castle was built in 1958 and significantly remodeled in 1999. I have never seen another White Castle sign like this. I don't know if it was mass-produced and this is the last of its kind or if it was built during the remodeling. These photos are from 2010. The building and sign were still there in 2015. By 2016, they were gone. For more, see this website.

More Ohio:
White Castle (Cincinnati) [vintage; gone]

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