COLUMBUS – Happy 100th birthday, White Castle!
Billy Ingram opened White Castle in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921, selling the iconic little square burgers for 5 cents, and moved the chain to Columbus in 1934.
The name White Castle was chosen to reflect cleanliness and stability. The original menu consisted of a small hamburger grilled with onions, coffee, apple pie and Coke.
Wednesday marks White Castle’s 100th birthday and, since White Castle is considered the first fast-food hamburger chain in the U.S., it could be said the entire fast-food industry is celebrating its centennial.
The chain’s year-long celebration will include the White Castle Foundation providing scholarships for employees and their families and prizes for customers.
In collaboration with Coca-Cola, White Castle has introduced a set of three collectible augmented reality soft drink cups, which come alive with sound and motion when viewed through a smartphone.