Many keep in mind the distinct aroma and tiny, flavorful sliders of Royal Citadel, a beloved burger chain with deep roots in each Miami, Florida, and Cleveland, Ohio. Whereas these have been two separate corporations, each left an indelible mark on the palates and reminiscences of their respective communities. In Miami, Royal Citadel wasn’t only a restaurant; it was a neighborhood establishment, the town’s very first burger chain.
This put up dives into the fascinating historical past of Miami’s Royal Citadel, exploring its highs, its lows, and the enduring legacy that continues to today. Take into account this your all-access move to the tales behind these little sq.… wait, spherical burgers! And who is aware of, perhaps in the future this can certainly grow to be the definitive guide on the Royal Citadel System. Within the meantime, we’d love to listen to your Royal Citadel reminiscences within the feedback under!
Royal Citadel Hamburgers Historical past
A Look Inside: Royal Citadel – Miami Firm
The Founding and the Taste (1938)
Our story begins in 1938 when Ohio transplant William Singer, impressed by the success of the White Citadel System, established Royal Citadel in Miami. The very first location at 7957 NE 2nd Avenue could also be gone, however its affect continues to be felt.
Singer clearly admired White Citadel, which had been serving up its iconic sq. sliders in Ohio for over twenty years. Nevertheless, when White Citadel lastly arrived in South Florida in 1959, they discovered Royal Citadel firmly entrenched within the hearts (and stomachs) of Miami’s mini-burger fans.
So, what made the Miami Royal Citadel burger distinctive? Because the Miami Herald’s Jeffrey Weiss aptly described:
They have been spherical – in contrast to their sq., northern White Citadel counterparts – maybe two half {dollars} large and never a lot thicker, fried to inside an inch of their lives and topped with minced fried onions and a few pickle slices.
Miami Herald’s Jeffrey Weiss
However Royal Citadel was extra than simply burgers. Their breakfast was equally famend. Think about freshly squeezed orange juice, eggs cooked in butter, and occasional served with wealthy, heavy whipping cream – a very royal solution to begin the day!
Throughout its preliminary week, that first Royal Citadel retailer raked in a decent $245, a testomony to its instant recognition. By the mid-Sixties, the corporate had grown to a powerful community of over 200 places.
Apparently, the primary twenty Royal Citadel buildings have been open-air buildings. A later disagreement with native authorities led to the shift in the direction of the enclosed, flat-top, glass-fronted design we nonetheless affiliate with Royal Citadel at the moment.
These iconic buildings, typically that includes the “Match for a King” slogan embedded of their terrazzo flooring, have been a signature of the model.
COOL FACT: Earlier than he constructed his McDonald’s empire, Ray Kroc bought multimixer shake machines to Royal Citadel whereas working for Prince Citadel!
The Journey: Going Public and a Change of Arms (Mid-Sixties – 1970)
Royal Citadel went public in 1965, marking a brand new chapter for the corporate. Nevertheless, in February 1969, the reign of the unique homeowners got here to an finish when Royal Citadel was bought to Efficiency Techniques Inc., the homeowners of Minnie Pearl’s Rooster.
Sadly, Efficiency Techniques quickly discovered itself embroiled in a scandal involving the Securities and Commerce Fee and their franchise charge reporting strategies. By September 1970, the corporate introduced a staggering $39 million loss, placing them in dire monetary straits. To recoup losses, Efficiency Techniques started promoting off Royal Citadel places the place the true property worth outweighed the restaurant’s profitability.
Untold Tales: Forgotten Royal Citadel Historical past
Delving deeper into the previous reveals some fascinating and, at instances, troubling features of Royal Citadel’s historical past. The very first location employed feminine carhops in flared pants – a element that appears nearly quaint whenever you be taught that ladies wouldn’t work inside a Royal Citadel restaurant once more till 1967.
Probably the most troublesome a part of the corporate’s historical past to confront is the interval when Black clients weren’t permitted inside Royal Citadel places and will solely order from an outside take-out window. This discriminatory apply lastly modified within the mid-Sixties.
A major turning level got here when James N. Brimberry grew to become the primary Black worker to work inside a Royal Citadel restaurant. In a outstanding coincidence, James went on to buy seven Royal Citadel places.
Even after the corporate’s chapter in 1975 and subsequent liquidation in 1979, James Brimberry single-handedly stored the Royal Citadel flame alive for a few years. In the present day, his household proudly carries on this legacy.
Hollywood Royalty: Royal Citadel on the Silver Display
Royal Citadel’s iconic look and native presence even landed it roles in some notable productions, together with the James Bond basic Goldfinger and the Academy Award-winning movie Moonlight (2017).
The Northern Cousin: Royal Citadel – Ohio Firm
It’s simple to imagine that every one Royal Citadel eating places have been a part of the Miami-based chain, which did develop into Georgia and Louisiana. Nevertheless, a separate Royal Citadel firm operated in Cleveland, Ohio, and elements of Michigan. Based in 1940 by William Singer’s brother, Samuel, the Ohio-based eating places bore a putting resemblance to their Miami counterparts.
Apparently, whereas the Miami places struggled within the early Seventies, Sugardale Meals Inc. acquired the 32 Ohio and Michigan places in 1973. Sadly, as a result of poor efficiency, Sugardale closed all of those northern Royal Castles by 1975.
The Street Not Taken: Franchising
Regardless of its recognition, Royal Citadel’s makes an attempt at franchising by no means fairly took off. Right here’s a glimpse right into a franchising pamphlet from the late Sixties:
Mapping the Kingdom: Royal Citadel Areas
At its peak, the Miami Royal Citadel boasted an in depth community of eating places. Listed below are a number of glimpses of their growth:
The Coronary heart of the Operation: Royal Citadel Commissary
To help its rising variety of eating places, Royal Citadel constructed a big commissary alongside the railroad tracks in Hialeah in 1958. This facility not solely supplied the mandatory provides but additionally housed a 24-hour restaurant. The unique constructing nonetheless stands at the moment, a silent testomony to the chain’s previous.
From Burgers to Companies: Repurposed Royal Citadel Buildings
The distinctive structure of Royal Citadel buildings made them simply recognizable. Many of those buildings have been repurposed and proceed to serve the group in new methods:
- Entenmann’s Bakery Outlet (completely closed): 6700 Pembroke Street, Pembroke Pines, FL
- La Cruzada Restaurant: 331 Park Place, Homestead, FL (one other terrazzo sighting!)
- Mr. Fast: 5615 W Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL (sure, the terrazzo is there too!)
- Pacifico Chinese language: 1098 W twenty ninth Avenue, Hialeah, FL
- Estrella Insurance coverage: 3701 SW eighth Avenue, Miami, FL
A Look Again in Print: Newspaper Adverts Over the Years
These classic newspaper advertisements supply a nostalgic glimpse into Royal Citadel’s advertising and promotions all through its historical past:
The Royal Phrase: The Royal Spatula E-newsletter
For avid Royal Citadel followers and collectors, “The Royal Spatula” firm e-newsletter is a prized piece of memorabilia.
A Style of Dwelling: Royal Citadel Birch Beer
Royal Citadel’s well-known house-made Birch Beer, together with Citadel Cola, ultimately made its approach into Florida and Ohio supermarkets, permitting followers to take pleasure in a style of Royal Citadel at residence.
Past Burgers: Different Royal Citadel Ventures
Royal Citadel additionally dabbled in different enterprise ventures:
- Royal Sky Campground (1972-1976)
Criterion I Steakhouse (1973-1975)
The Ultimate Chapter: The Finish of the Royal Citadel Chain
As Royal Citadel Chairman & President Kleber Dunklin defined, the enterprise confronted important challenges:
If in case you have a property that’s price $120,000 and also you’re solely making a internet revenue of $5,000 a yr then you definitely aren’t getting return in your funding. And that was a place we have been in.
Kleber Dunklin
To compete with the velocity of bigger chains like McDonald’s, Royal Citadel started getting ready burgers upfront, which sadly compromised their high quality and style. Makes an attempt to rebrand and replace the menu got here too late. By 1975, stockholders started liquidating the corporate’s property, with the ultimate cost occurring in October 1979.
Remembering the Founder: Interview with William Singer
This information piece from February ninth, 1976, options an interview with Royal Citadel founder William Singer, providing a poignant reflection on the chain’s closing.
The Final Stand: The Sole Remaining Royal Citadel in Miami
It’s laborious to imagine that this once-dominant chain, with over 150 places throughout a number of states (round 40 of them within the Miami-Dade, Broward & Monroe counties space), is now right down to a single survivor. Situated at 2700 NW 79th Avenue in Miami, this final Royal Citadel is a real landmark.
Jim Brimberry and his spouse owned this location for the reason that late Seventies, and in early 2019, their grandson James took over, persevering with the legacy that William Singer began again in 1938.
And sure, these unbelievable sliders are nonetheless on the menu! However don’t overlook the Feast Burger and remember to wash all of it down with their signature fountain Birch Beer.
A Style of the Current: Present Royal Citadel Photos
So, for those who’re in Miami, make a journey again in time and help this iconic institution. Expertise a style of historical past!
Royal Citadel
2700 NW 79th Avenue
Miami, FL
(305) 696-8241
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miamiroyalcastle
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 7 am – 11 pm
A Glimpse into the Future That Wasn’t: Royal Carousel
Earlier than Burger King arrived in Miami in 1954, Royal Citadel had already been serving the town since 1938, really making it the unique Miami burger chain. In an effort to innovate, Royal Citadel unveiled a brand new idea in April 1967: the Royal Carousel. This “restaurant of the longer term” aimed for better automation and self-service.
By July 1967, advertisements appeared looking for personnel for this new enterprise, positioned at *599 NE 167th Avenue in North Miami Seashore (now a Taco Bell). The Miami Instances and The Miami Information each heralded the opening of Royal Carousel on August twenty third, 1967, touting it because the “first Digital Restaurant within the Southeast.”
Prospects would place their orders at a “Grasp Console,” and the meals can be ready and packaged by automated equipment. Apparently, the Royal Carousel menu featured objects not usually discovered at Royal Citadel, similar to french-fried shrimp, specifically breaded rooster, and hush puppies.
They even provided a “Charbroiled Tremendous Double Hamburger with a Particular Sauce,” a departure from Royal Citadel’s flat-top cooking methodology. The Royal Carousel additionally boasted an air-conditioned eating room, a notable amenity for quick meals on the time.
Regardless of the preliminary buzz, the Royal Carousel idea solely lasted a few yr and by no means expanded past its authentic location. It appeared like an revolutionary concept that, for no matter motive, didn’t fairly pan out.
Do you keep in mind the Royal Carousel? Share your tales within the feedback under!
Due to Phillip Pessar for monitoring down the tackle within the 1968 Polks Listing.