March 10 marked the 100th Anniversary of White Castle.
Bill Ingram and Walt Anderson opened their first store in Wichita, Kan., with only $700 dollars on March 10, 1921. It became the first national fast-food hamburger chain.
The original price was only 5 cents. In the early 1960s, my parents would take me to the Kitty City Amusement Park which was just west of today’s Alley Pond Golf Center on Northern Boulevard.
Our next stop would be the Bayside White Castle on the corner of Bell and Northern Boulevard. It was originally opened in 1932. Even in the 1960s, there was no seating area, just one long counter.
It was a simple menu offering 7 cents burgers or 14 cents for a double slider, french fries and soda at low cost..
As I got older, White Castle would become a late-night stop for a quick snack before going home. Prior to my 1997 wedding, Frank Sinatra was quoted in GQ Magazine saying he would always have White Castle hamburgers flown in to any performances in Las Vegas.
My wife and I decided to honor the “Chairman of the Board” and had 200 sliders delivered to the Sky Line Princess in Flushing as part of our wedding reception.
Today White Castle faces many other competitors such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendys, Five Guys, Checkers, Sonic, Shake Shack, Smash Burger and others.
For me, nothing beats a half dozen White Castle Hamburgers topped with cheese, extra onions and pickles!
Larry Penner
Great Neck
