Why There’s No White Castle in Wichita, Kansas — Even Though It Was Born There

Wichita, Kansas

The first White Castle opened in Wichita, Kansas in 1921, selling five-cent hamburgers that changed American fast food forever.

Walter Anderson’s tiny brick building started the slider revolution, but today Kansas has zero White Castle locations.

There’s still a marker at its original location though, but that’s all.

Here’s how that happened.

A Cook Who Smashed the Meatball

Walter Anderson, born in 1880 to Swedish immigrants, ran food stands in Wichita since 1916. His first business was in a converted streetcar.

He created his famous burger by accident. While cooking meatballs, he got frustrated and smashed one flat with his spatula. Customers loved the flattened patties.

By 1920, Anderson had four hamburger stands across Wichita. Local papers called him the “King of the Hamburger.”

The Birth of the Castle Concept

Billy Ingram was working in insurance and real estate when he joined Anderson as a partner. He came up with the name “White Castle” for a reason. “

White” meant clean and “Castle” meant strong and permanent. The castle design was based on the Chicago Water Tower.

This style and name helped solve a big problem. After Upton Sinclair’s book “The Jungle” revealed dirty meat plants in 1906, many people were afraid to eat ground beef.

The Five-Cent Hamburger Revolution

White Castle sliders cost just five cents each until 1929. The company told customers to “Buy ’em by the sack,” making it normal to buy lots of burgers at once.

Factory workers loved these cheap, quick meals. Wichita’s growing workforce provided plenty of hungry customers.

Even during the Great Depression, White Castle kept prices low. This smart move helped them succeed while other businesses failed.

A Building Designed for Cleanliness

Early White Castles had white porcelain over steel outside and shiny stainless steel inside. Everything about them said “clean” to worried customers. Workers wore all-white uniforms.

The kitchen was open to view so people could watch their food being made. Anderson had fresh beef delivered twice daily and ground it where customers could see.

The “Secret” Cooking Method

Anderson created a special way to cook burgers that made White Castle famous. He pressed beef into square patties instead of round ones.

He poked five holes in each patty so they would cook evenly without flipping. The burgers cooked on a bed of onions on the grill.

Steam from the onions cooked the meat from below. Every White Castle used this exact method so all sliders tasted the same.

Expanding Beyond Wichita

After success in Wichita, White Castle opened in El Dorado, Kansas in 1922. The business quickly spread throughout the Midwest.

By 1930, they had restaurants in twelve major cities and even reached New York and New Jersey. In 1924, they officially became the White Castle System of Eating Houses Corporation.

The success sparked many copycats with similar names like Little Kastle and White Tower, all hoping to cash in on the growing burger craze.

Business Operations

White Castle built their own bakeries, meat plants, and warehouses to control quality. This approach was new for restaurants in the 1920s.

In 1932, they started Paperlynen to make paper hats and supplies. This factory eventually sold paper goods to restaurants nationwide.

They formed Porcelain Steel Buildings in 1934 to make prefab restaurants. White Castle also pioneered food coupons in 1932, offering five burgers for ten cents.

The End of an Era in Wichita

Walter Anderson sold his half of White Castle to Billy Ingram in 1933 for $340,000. He wanted to explore other interests, especially aviation.

Ingram moved the company to Columbus, Ohio in 1934 to be closer to the center of their growing restaurant network. This move began the end for White Castle in its hometown.

By 1938, all Wichita White Castles had closed. The company never returned, making it one of the few restaurant chains without a location where it started.

The Kings-X Legacy

A.J. “Jimmie” King, a loyal White Castle employee, bought the Wichita locations in 1938. King had moved to Ohio with the company but wanted to return to Kansas.

Ingram sold him the restaurants during a bridge game but made him change the name and look. King renamed them “Kings-X” and kept most of the staff.

Kings-X served sliders in Wichita for 74 years until closing in 2012, lasting three times longer than the original White Castle.

Check Out the White Castle Plaque

You won’t find the original White Castle building when visiting Wichita today. Sadly, it’s long gone from its First and Main location. Instead, head to 222 East Elm Street near First Presbyterian Church to see the historical marker commemorating fast food’s birthplace.

For a taste of related history, visit Jimmie’s Diner at 3111 N. Rock Road, open 6am-8pm daily.

While not the original White Castle, this restaurant continues traditions started by A.J. “Jimmie” King, who bought Wichita’s White Castle locations in 1938. The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum downtown also features exhibits on the city’s restaurant history.

Look for the plaque at Sunflower Bank, which now stands at the original White Castle location.

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