. It was back in 1921 when Billy Ingram took out a $700 loan and, with friend Walt Anderson, opened a shack in Wichita, Kansas. This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. White Castle is an American regional hamburger restaurant chain with 377 locations across 13 states, with its greatest presence in the Midwest and New York metropolitan area. But the meat industry nationwide had fallen on hard times as Ingram and Anderson looked to grow White Castle. Meat shortages, government-imposed price ceilings, and wage freezes continued . The third White Castle restaurant opened in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1927 and remained in operation until 1979, making it the longest continuously operating White Castle in the country at the time. (Getty Images). that sold tiny five-cent burgers, coffee, pie and Coca-Cola. His son - Lisa's dad, Bill (E.W. Way back in 1933, the company packed up and moved its main headquarters to Columbus, Ohio where it has remained ever since. The foundation has also provided $1.5 million scholarships to full-time team members and their dependents. Title page for Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," 1906. Our cheeseburger slider is only about 160 calories and the burger 140 calories. In 1933, the company made a transition in ownership. White Castle enjoyed a trophy silver screen moment in the landmark 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever" when Brooklyn disco celebrity Tony Manero (John Travolta) takes his date to the burger joint with his classless buddies. The store offered a special in the early days selling five hamburgers for 10 cents. "Billy" Ingram, launched the brand in 1921 with $700 and 5-cent sliders, innovating such platforms as carry-out with the tagline "Buy 'Em by the Sack . Looking at those who aren't general managers, Indeed indicated that White Castle's cashiers and team members make $10.52 to $11.42 an hour. Responsible for the strategic direction of a 90+ year old restaurant and retail brand. The movie "Saturday Night Fever" (1977) featured a scene filmed in a White Castle restaurant, bringing nationwide recognition to the regional brand. Its sliders are available in the frozen-food aisle of supermarkets in all 50 states. Ingram Jr., who passed it on to E.W. Ingram bought out Anderson in 1933 and expanded to Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York and Minneapolis. By the time his son, Edgar, took over in 1966, White Castle had sold a billion burgers. As White Castle celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2021, the Ingram-White Castle . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Bill Ingram is retiring after 43 years with White Castle, however he will still remain on the chain's board, White Castle was founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. 7 / 34. In 1927, Billy Ingram invented restaurant carryout and unveiled the new tagline, "Buy 'em by the sack.". The old White Castle logo when Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson first opened their very first White Castle in 1921. While it might have sounded like bizarre fraternity hazing ritual, med student Bernard Flesche kept a journal of his burger and water diet, eating 20 to 24 of the small hamburgers a day. White Castle made rock icon Alice Cooper a throne of White Castle burgers to celebrate his ascension into the brand's Cravers Hall of Fame. Stray from the past and you risk losing cult followers. Workers scheduled during that time in the restaurants, at the home office and at the companys manufacturing plants were paid for the four-hour break. White Castle has also managed to punch above to build a legacy among its many loyal fans in pop culture. Billy Ingram was followed as the head of the company by his son Edgar.W. Reply. Nevermind that one's breath after eating hamburgers loaded with diced onions might kill any romance in the air this hasn't stopped White Castle from marketing itself as a Valentine's Day destination for several years now. Private ownership has also let the company remain true to its roots instead of chasing fads and to cultivate something of a cult following. It is known for its small, square hamburgers, 'I'm ready,' said E.W. The company is slowly changing. He completely righted the ship with quality standards, cleanliness and all of it out in the open. The entry-level wages paid to White Castle employees compare favorably with those at other fast-food chains. Toan H./Yelp. Box 1498 Columbus, Ohio 43216 - 1498 U.S.A (614) 228 - 5781 Fax: (614) 464 - 0596. About Dave Rife. With just $700, Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram and Walter Anderson opened a tiny white, castle-looking burger shack in Wichita, Kansas. Even with its history, the building hasn't always been a hot real estate commodity and it sat vacant for 15 years after being used as a real estate office and then a National Guard Recruitment office. Richardson: I would beg to differ. The Impossible slider began popping up on White Castle menus at 140 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Chicago, and was an instant hit. We see it as less about marketing and more about conversations. It probably didn't hurt that the company had Impossible launch parties with celebrities like Questlove and the Wu-Tang Clan. "I know, as a fourth-generation, we are all thankful for Bill's many years of leadership," Lisa . All rights reserved. Many years before the movie, Super Size Me (2004), Ingram persuaded biochemist Jesse McClendon to conduct a scientific experiment. Edgar Ingram (anb.org). Local burger cook Walter Anderson (left) and entrepreneur Billy Ingram founded White Castle in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. Photo . Were also looking into returning to Manhattan, not too far from Times Square, but no lease has been signed. Richardson: We opened three including a large location in Scottsdale, Arizona, our first in that state. There are now 400 restaurants in 13 states. Actors Kal Penn and John Cho pose for a portrait while promoting their movie "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" at Pop's Burger in downtown New York City on July 19, 2004. "His hamburger sandwich proved popular enough for Anderson to open three hamburger stands in Wichita between 1916 and 1920.". When Billy Ingram moved White Castle's headquarters to Columbus, he knew he wanted to give beyond the burger. SIMON LAMBERT on how to fight back as banks sting borrowers but Can YOU guess the book? When Mr Ingram finally walks out of the door as he steps down from his position, he'll be handing the reins over to his daughter, Lisa, the current president. Legal Statement. McClendon planned that a subject would eat only White Castle hamburgers and water for thirteen weeks. (Yes, it was a real insult to the hamburger.). 99%. This refusal to franchise hasn't come without a cost, of course. Anderson is credited with being the inventor of the hamburger Who does that appeal to? During the past nine decades, the fast-food chain has also continued to be managed by the very same family that founded it. It partners with a slew of vendors including GrubHub, Uber Eats, DoorDash and Postmates. California had its own version of White Castle with the slider joint Coastal Castle. We're talking about fans of marijuana and White Castle's time in the Hollywood spotlight with the 2004 movie Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle. White Castle also pays into employees' 401(k) retirement plans, offers tuition reimbursement to employees in school, and provides financial and other forms of support for workers who are facing difficulties. "Castle to indicate permanence and stability. Not so fast, buddy! Courtesy of White Castle. "In 1916, Anderson developed a different method of preparing a hamburger sandwich by flattening a ball of ground meat and cooking it with onions on a hot griddle for a short period of time," writes the Kansas Business Hall of fame. Elaine Miseta and White Castle's second president E. W. Ingram, Jr. It was some pretty strange trash talking and more than a little confusing to a lot Texans who were quick to proclaim on social media just how much they enjoyed triple meat Whataburgers. Americans are expected to spend about $333 billion on fast food in 2022, according to IBIS World data. . Shutterstock. after 99 years, located in Bloomington, Minnesota. "It was a long, late night in Vegas," he noted. Please only use it for a guidance and White Castle (restaurant)'s actual income may vary a lot from the dollar amount shown above. Why? White Castle has survived in the fast food industry for nearly 100 years. He is widely . Richardson: Were smaller than our bigger competitors so we have to be smarter. AKA Walter L. Anderson. Richardson: Being family-owned, our philosophy has been to not worry about being the biggest, but focus on being the best we can be. Boy who 'accidentally dropped a copy of the Quran at Wakefield school' receives death threats: Teenager is Nightmare! The new White Castle logo which has been an improvement but same concept as the old logo. Bee around 1900, before moving to Wichita to pursue his career in real estate and insurance. MEET THE AMERICAN WHO INVENTED THE CRASH TEST DUMMY, A LIFE-SAVING INNOVATION, "White Castles rise to cult status was nothing short of miraculous," raved burger enthusiast and "Howard Stern Show" radio personality Jon Hein in the debut episode of TV program "Fast Food Mania.". Any team member who encounters an unexpected hardship can apply for a confidential relief grant of up to $1,500. "He came into the office almost every day to the very end," said Richardson. All rights reserved. In 2014, Time Magazine declared our iconic Original Slider the most influential burger of all time. Ms. Ingram has also served as President of White Castle System, Inc. since 2013 . White Castle turned 100 years old last week. In 1921, Walt took Ingram on as a partner and with $700 they formed a new business which was soon to be named the White Castle System of Eating Houses with Walt as president and Billy as vice president. They made me a throne out of White Castle Burgers. By the '80s, White Castle prices had risen almost threefold, with a burger selling for 27 cents. White castle was dismissed as just a cheap food fad early on, but its small square burgers were such a hit that the chain found itself being imitated from competitors big and small. Elaine Miseta and White Castle's second president E. W. Ingram, Jr. Journalist Upton Sinclair had published "The Jungle," his scathing novel of the meatpacking industry, in 1906. When the company first began, the burgers were cooked by placing small balls of ground beef on a grill with a topping of diced onions. In 1934 he moved the company headquarters to Columbus, Ohio. Because the burgers . Or was it six? Vegan-friendly dishes might not be an uncommon addition to the menus of many sit-down restaurants, but the fast food industry has been a little slower to adapt to this growing market. Walter A. Anderson c9-founded the White Castle chain selling small square hamburgers. In fact, we have 1.2 million followers on Facebook. Flesche maintained good health throughout the entire 13 weeks and Ingram incorporated the study into White Castle's marketing campaign to prove customers could eat only his burgers and still maintain "physical and mental faculties." Following Frist at No. Born: 26-Nov-1880 Birthplace: St. Mary's, KS Died: 13-Dec-1963 Location of death: Eastborough, KS Cause of death: unspecified Remains: Burie. Billy Ingram net worth is $9 Million Billy Ingram Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Billy Ingram is an actor and writer, known for A Killer Christmas Carol (2011), Super Secret TV Formulas (2003) and The 100 Funniest Movies (2006). While most of us don't have the athletic prowess or musical accolades to land us a spot in a sports or music hall of fame, almost anyone can eat a hamburger. Businessman. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. A whopping 35,000 reservations were expected for its Valentine's Day festivities at participating restaurants in 2015. I'm a Feng Shui expert and these are the three things I will never allow in a bedroom. Building communities remains a focus for Ingram and the White Castle brand. Inside Frogmore Cottage: Plush home Harry and Meghan have been 'evicted' from by King Charles boasts a roomy Charles evicting Harry and Meghan is the act of a King putting his country first: REBECCA ENGLISH reveals A royal princess at Eton? How many new outlets did it open in 2019? Disclamer: White Castle (restaurant) net worth displayed here are calculated based on a combination social factors. In January, Lisa Ingram, CEO of White Castle, took on a second title at the chain: head of the board of directors, following the retirement of her father (via Columbus Business First). Behold, the Impossible slider! ", The fourth White Castle, with the now familiar castle motif, in Wichita. At White Castle, the most compensated executive makes $700,000, annually, and the lowest compensated makes $50,000. While touting the safety of White Castle hamburgers was something its founders didn't take lightly, maintaining a clean image was of equal importance. 'I've always learned more from my mistakes than my so-called successes,' Bill told Forbes. For those who have truly taken their love of burgers to the next level specifically White Castle sliders the White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame awaits. In fact, there are no franchises, though it has two license partnerships with operators who run four outlets in Las Vegas and four in Shanghai. Its known in company lore as White Castle No. 'I'd be really worried what that would do to the whole brand.'. The customer then was served up a slider made with unfrozen beef delicious. After midnight, it goes from White Castle to Night Castle after a night of reverie. And since 2012s Hurricane Sandy, which devastated areas of the East Coast, White Castle has offered the Castle Shares Team Member Relief Program. "We try to make sure we don't complicate the operation of individual restaurants,said Ingram's grandson, Bill Ingram. The Colorado native founded the worlds first burger chain, White Castle, in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. "It was seen as unsanitary. Ingram had replaced her father as CEO at the end of 2015, according to The Columbus Dispatch. He's considered the father of fast food. Rather than wait for his local White Castle to install bigger booths, or dare take an even more extreme approach and lose a few pounds, Kessman sued White Castleunder the Americans with Disabilities Act for not providing him with six more inches of "gut space," according to Forbes. Psychologist reveals the most common phrases that NARCISSISTS use to manipulate you during EVERY stage of a Can you solve this trivia riddle? White Castle is private and family-owned, per Forbes, so it isn't selling shares of its business in a stock market. While most of today's White Castle locations are modernized with drive-thrus and are far larger than their early counterparts, there are some of those early White Castle buildings still around. 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