You’ve gotten a lot to be taught for those who learn Burger Beast frequently and don’t learn about White Fortress and its sliders. White Fortress is a regional burger chain that’s nonetheless family-operated.
Billy Ingram and Walt Anderson based White Fortress in 1921. The primary location was in Wichita, Kansas. Many, together with myself, consider White Fortress is liable for the burger revolution.
After all, White Castle’s signature burger is the slider. Their slider is a small sq. burger cooked-steamed on a mattress of onions. The burger patty additionally has 5 holes, which assist with the cooking course of by permitting steam to rise by way of it.
It’s by no means flipped. The slider is sort of a potato chip; you’ll be able to’t have only one.
The place Can I Discover White Castles?
White Fortress has over 350 eating places in 13 states: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. It was based in Wichita, Kansas, however has not had a location there because the Nineteen Forties.
Was White Fortress ever exterior of the United States? There have been just a few international locations that had a legit White Fortress and never some knockoff: Bahamas, China (2017–2021), Hong Kong, Japan (1986), Malaysia (1989/90), Mexico (1986), Singapore, and South Korea (1993/1994).
There have been additionally two places in Miami, Florida, my hometown. Nonetheless, after the founder’s passing in 1967, operations closed. I’ve been capable of snag some sliders from the Cravemobile when it stopped in Miami and Orlando. Extra on that beneath!
Should you’re nonetheless in want a White Fortress slider, your greatest wager is to take a look at your nearest grocery store’s frozen meals part. It’s not the identical factor, however it’s shut. And when that craving hits, it is going to quickly satiate that want.
Indiana
On a 25-state street journey in 2022, my cousin Fred mentions that he’s by no means eaten at a White Fortress. After my disbelief subsided, we hit the closest location (Terre Haute) to correctly pop his slider cherry.
Kentucky
On considered one of my many street journeys, I drove by way of Lexington, Kentucky, and noticed White Fortress. It was an exquisite web site that improved with just a few sliders.
New York
Marcela and I stayed in Jackson Heights for just a few days with our pals Carlos and Linda Giusti. After leaving the airport, our first cease was White Fortress.
New Jersey
In 2009, my good friend David Rojo took this lovely image of the White Fortress in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Ohio
My two street journeys to Columbus, Ohio, revolved round visits to White Fortress. I used to be invited to their unique Headquarters on the primary journey, adopted by lunch on the nearest restaurant. For the second go round, I signed copies of my ebook All In regards to the Burger at their flagship location.
Tennessee
My two stays in Nashville, Tennessee, have one factor in widespread with one another: White Fortress sliders and fries.
White Fortress Eating places in Miami – 1958
Had been there any White Castles in Miami? At any time when I point out that White Fortress existed in Miami, Florida, most folk assume I’m confused with Royal Fortress, however I’m not. Within the ebook By The Sackful, you’ll find mentions of the Miami restaurant places.
A White Fortress-shaped spaceship touchdown pad in Miami! Billy Ingram retired to Miami in 1958 and constructed three Castles there.
The design of this location echoed the space-age angles and the futuristic and glittering glass partitions of the large hamburger chains that had sprung as much as compete with White Fortress within the late Fifties and early Sixties.
The corporate closed the Florida operations in 1967 attributable to inefficient provide distribution.
By The Sackful ebook, Web page 104
This advert was an important beginning, and as luck would have it, two White Fortress restaurant addresses in Miami are listed:
North Miami Seashore: 1199 N. Miami Seashore Blvd. (N.E. 163rd St.)
Miami: 2698 West Flagler Road
After scouring newspaper archives, I discovered a November 12, 1958, article about White Fortress‘s enlargement into Miami. The story additionally reveals the tackle of the White Fortress Workplace/Warehouse (3250 NW thirty eighth Road).
Though the By The Sackful ebook mentions the existence of three places, I can solely confirm the 2 above. Perhaps the workplace was thought-about the third location?
These 1960 images of the 2 White Castles in Miami have been hands-down the most effective issues I discovered after hours of analysis.
Cravemobile in Miami – 2015
“Most individuals thought they’d by no means be again, however these people are
about to eat their phrases,” Burger Beast‘s Sef Gonzalez mentioned to the Miami New Occasions. “However right here we’re, 50 years later, and White Fortress‘s CraveMobile will likely be gracing us with its presence on the Welcome Again to Miami White Fortress Celebration.”
In late 2015, White Fortress was again in Miami through a cease by its CraveMobile. I helped them coordinate their cease in exchange for one factor: I received the primary slider in Miami since they left virtually half a century in the past.
Shortly after their arrival, I had a Crave Case with 30 sliders in my sizzling little fingers. The case has now turn out to be a part of my Burger Museum‘s assortment of artifacts.
The Burger Museum Assortment
Here’s a very small a part of the White Fortress assortment from my now-closed Burger Museum.
Are you a Craver?
A Craver is a White Fortress fan. There may be even a Craver Corridor of Fame for all the true hardcore devotees. I haven’t been inducted into it but, however I get my acceptance speech prepared for at any time when that day comes.