Richardson: To me the definition is being comfortable in our own skin. He was 85 years old. It was the company's speedy service of feeding customers with sacks of five-cent hamburgers cooked to an exact specification at each location that led to the creation of fast food, according to the company's own historical records. Richardson: I think the growth will come in marketshare. Box 1498 Columbus, Ohio 43216 - 1498 U.S.A (614) 228 - 5781 Fax: (614) 464 - 0596. The foundation has also provided $1.5 million scholarships to full-time team members and their dependents. ", The fourth White Castle, with the now familiar castle motif, in Wichita. The sliders are available in the frozen-food aisle of supermarkets in all 50 states. In the first few decades of the 20th century, burgers weren't just considered an unrefined food, but downright dangerous. As White Castle celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2021, the Ingram-White Castle . As a member of the family that owns the multi-million-dollar White Castle chain, Ingram probably has a significant share of the company's net worth. 'I've always learned more from my mistakes than my so-called successes,' Bill told Forbes. The first White Castle restaurant in Ohio was built in Cincinnati in 1927. Walt Anderson. . Another fourth-generation family member is Dave Rife, a White Castle assistant vice president who appeared on the show "Undercover Boss." The History of White Castle. Take the name and color of the building for instance. "We try to make sure we don't complicate the operation of individual restaurants,said Ingram's grandson, Bill Ingram. Building communities remains a focus for Ingram and the White Castle brand. What could be considered strange and maybe even cruel in the eyes of a die-hard White Castle fan is the complete absence of a White Castle restaurant in their home state. In 2017, Indiana Landmarks bought it from the National Guard for the price of just $1. Billy Ingram passed stewardship of White Castle along to his son E.W. We dont expect to add double digit numbers. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images), "I chill at White Castle cause its the best," the trio rapped in "The New Style.". Billy Ingram died in Columbus on May 20, 1966, after battling a short illness. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. A whopping 35,000 reservations were expected for its Valentine's Day festivities at participating restaurants in 2015. Of course, enjoying a slider without a cold beverage to wash it down with is just wrong, so White Castle kicked in a free soda to sweeten up the deal. ", MEET THE AMERICAN WHO COOKED UP FROZEN FOODS: ADVENTURER AND INNOVATOR CLARENCE BIRDSEYE. Ingram III) took over in 1992 and sits at the same mahogany desk in the same office as his grandfather. or redistributed. For a relatively small brand, thats punching above our weight. 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. Billy . In the 1980s, KFC had their Chicken Littles sliders and Burger King tried its own version of the slider called the Burger Bundle. It is known for its small, square hamburgers, 'I'm ready,' said E.W. In 1962, White Castle began serving cheese . When Lisa becomes CEO, it will be fresh bloody, but hardly news blood at the 94-year-old chain. "Knowing that we started in Wichita and that it is where it all began, we thought would be a great chance to bring some of the family members together," said Jamie Richardson, the company's VP. The original Craver, Billy Ingram, founded White Castle in 1921 and created an American icon that is still family-owned today. Texas writer/director Richard Linklater couldn't help but lampoon the strange political moment by making a short ad using a character from his film Bernie, who was just as befuddled by the statement as the rest of the state was. Weve remained relevant for almost a 100 years. According to data by Foursquare that looked at the eating habits during the prime muchie hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., White Castle came out on top when compared with eight other fast food restaurants. White Castle places great stock in cultivating some of its workers. Here's the lowdown on this odd little burger chain. Many years before the movie, Super Size Me (2004), Ingram persuaded biochemist Jesse McClendon to conduct a scientific experiment. Title page for Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," 1906. (Getty Images). They also appointed outsiders to the company's board which was a success. I'm a Feng Shui expert and these are the three things I will never allow in a bedroom. White Castle hamburger Sliders move down a conveyor belt before being frozen, packaged and shipped to grocery stores at the new White Castle Co. The book had impacted the good name of ground beef so much, that Anderson and business partner Billy A. Ingram choose the name "White Castle" to convey a sense of purity and strength. At White Castle, the most compensated executive makes $700,000, annually, and the lowest compensated makes $50,000. Bill is the grandson of White Castle founder Billy Ingram, son of the company's second CEO E.W. We dont have the budget of big network buys, but we know our customers well. Photo . Americans are expected to spend about $333 billion on fast food in 2022. 8 Is A Historic Landmark. So with all of this commitment to cleanliness and history behind it, opening a White Castle franchise seems like an awesome idea, right? A White Castle burger costs about 89 cents today a delicious steal sold by the sackload. "It was like a love letter to White Castle," said Richardson, White Castle's then-director of marketing. According to The New York Post, the lawsuit was eventually dropped once White Castle provided proper gut space with new seating. Walter A. Anderson c9-founded the White Castle chain selling small square hamburgers. That statement wouldn't be so odd, if not for the fact that White Castle doesn't have a single restaurant in the Lone Star state. In celebration of their 90th anniversary or perhaps just to taunt Kansas fans the company did set up a pop-up shop for a single day in Wichita in 2011. Richardson: So much of our investment these days is in growing sales of consumer packaged goods. . SIMON LAMBERT on how to fight back as banks sting borrowers but Can YOU guess the book? As for Flesche, well, he reportedly swore off burgers and died at 54 years old from heart problems many years after the experiment was complete. He "parlayed a 5-cent hamburger into a $36 million chain." "Billy changed the way world eats by making hot, tasty food affordable for the masses," said Richardson, company spokesperson. 'Bill' Ingram III to the Columbus Dispatch. that sold tiny five-cent burgers, coffee, pie and Coca-Cola. So here's the problem with loving White Castle or any fast food restaurant for that matter a little too much. "Castle to indicate permanence and stability. There, he became active in the Rotary Club and met local businessman and burger-shop owner Walter Anderson. But the meat industry nationwide had fallen on hard times as Ingram and Anderson looked to grow White Castle. Columbus, Ohio Area. 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). 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. It probably didn't hurt though that his manager is friends with the company's CEO Bill Ingram. The comments below have not been moderated. Its classic white castle buildings adorned cities starting in 1921 when it was started by Billy Ingram. White Castle Systems, Inc. P.O. All rights reserved. Indiana Landmarks then put it on the market for $70,000, where it sat for two years before it was finally purchased with a few stipulations, of course. Were also looking into returning to Manhattan, not too far from Times Square, but no lease has been signed. The Ingram-White Castle Foundation established its scholarship in 1989 to honor founder Billy Ingram's core belief in the importance of . We dont have restaurants in 50 states. 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. As White Castle explains on another part of its website, it also has a scholarship program for employees and their family members. I know where he lives.'. AKA Walter L. Anderson. Fast-food founder Ingram inspired a cult phenomenon, in addition to an industry. ", "Every inch of the grill was dedicated for either the bread or the beef in small, square patties.". White Castle founder Billy Ingram at the grill. She is even looking at a couple of new brands too: Laughing Noodle, a Chinese restaurant with three outlets in Ohio and Kentucky; Blaze Modern BBQ, a smoke joint with two locations in Indianapolis; and Deckers Grilled Sandwiches, a lunch food joint in Tennessee and Kentucky. And Lisa Ingram, White Castles CEO, president and chairwoman of the board, is leading the 360-unit Columbus, Ohio-based quick-service brand known for its sliders into its second century with an emphasis on its culture. "It's easier to get into Harvard than the Cravers Hall of Fame," said White Castle spokesman Jamie Richardson. /sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_nrn/images/logos/footer.png, White Castle CEO and president Lisa Ingram, Meet the innovative, inclusive and industry changing leaders of the 2021 NRN Power List, 2023 Informa USA, Inc., All rights reserved, Allowed HTML tags: . The chain currently has just under 400 locations. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. Huh? Ingram then went to work perfecting ways to turn out Andersons burgers as quickly as possible in a sparking, sanitary space to reassure a wary public. In fact, the good people of Kansas haven't had a White Castle of their own in 80 years with the last location closing in 1938. The 1940s ended bleakly for White Castle. "White Castle didn't make that hamburger famous, that hamburger made White Castle famous," Coastal Castle president Kenneth H. Clifford told the Los Angeles Times in 1985. Who does that appeal to? White Castle created the Cravers Hall of Fame in 2001 to honor those who have displayed "a lifetime of devotion going to extreme lengths to satisfy cravings," company spokesman Jamie Richardson told Fox News Digital. Roughly half of its 401 outlets were built before 1960; the average manager has put in 21 years. It wasn't just the look of the restaurant that Ingram and Anderson placed a level of sanitary scrutiny on, but the employees working behind the counter as well. Market data provided by Factset. Responsible for the strategic direction of a 90+ year old restaurant and retail brand. We strive to keep White Castle relevant and quirky and fun., Relevancy includes introducing the plant-based Impossible Slider in 2018 and robotic fryers this year, and quirky includes the movie series spawned by 2004s Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.. Dave Rife is an American businessman born in 1964, who is best known to the world as the Assistant Vice President & General Manager, White Castle, which is one of the first hamburger chains established in the US. According to Forbes, Ingram's net worth is now $4.2 billion, up from $3.9 billion last year. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Because the burgers . The picture shown here may be "number 4," but it was the first white castle White Castle in the business; the other three were later remodeled after this location. The saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery is especially prevalent if its a multi-million dollar business with a long history behind it. They were closed in the 1960s because they were too far away from White Castle's supply chains in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. THESE RESTAURATEURS BRAVELY OPENED NEW EATERIES AMID COVID PANDEMIC: DETERMINED' TO SUCCEED. (White Castle made $738.3 million in 2019, according to The Business Journals.) Long story short, Coastal Castle no longer exists. The fast food chain was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. 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. Registered in England and Wales. In the subsequent years, White Castle experienced significant growth, becoming a beloved fast . I have his phone number. Other imitators like White Tower, Royal Castle, and White Palace have come and gone. Title page for Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," 1906. Billy Ingram was followed as the head of the company by his son Edgar.W. Desperate fans have even go so far as launching numerous petitions, begging the company to come to their slider-free part of the country. Ingram Jr., who passed it on to E.W. 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. Psychologist reveals the most common phrases that NARCISSISTS use to manipulate you during EVERY stage of a Can you solve this trivia riddle? Getting into this mecca of steamed burger greatness isn't an easy feat though. Boy who 'accidentally dropped a copy of the Quran at Wakefield school' receives death threats: Teenager is Nightmare! Now it would sound weird the idea that your experience there should be the same every single time and that every customer gets the exact same food over and over again. From the beginning, White Castle innovator and founder Billy Ingram's mission was to help team members and provide opportunities for them to better themselves. Ingram's great grandfather Billy Ingram opened the first location in Wichita, Kan., in 1921, partnering with Walter Anderson. One of the more bizarre moments in White Castle's history involves being pulled into some political mudslinging between Texas Senator Ted Cruz, 2020 presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, and Texas burger mainstay Whataburger. 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. May . The Ingram-White Castle Foundation has given $1.5 . 11% of White Castle employees are Hispanic or Latino. (Courtesy White Castle). 4 the first shop the partners opened together. It is considered the world's first fast-food eatery. Today our family-owned business sells the same humble . Krispy Kreme eventually backed out of the idea and a fictional hot dog stand was swapped in place before reaching out to White Castle executives who loved the idea. On May 15, 2019, the burger chain celebrated the holiday by offering its Cravers a free slider. As McDonald's and other burger franchises dominate the American landscape, White Castle with approximately 375 locations in 14 states, remains a modest . Elaine Miseta and White Castle's second president E. W. Ingram, Jr. To read more stories in this unique "Meet the American Who" series from Fox News Digital, click here. By the '80s, White Castle prices had risen almost threefold, with a burger selling for 27 cents. Ingram, y a su nieto E. W. Ingram III. The annual salaries of manager positions range from $22,909 to $60,122. White Castle did $847 million in sales in 2021. With Lisa in charge from the start of next year, the company appears to be in good hands. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. How many new outlets did it open in 2019? He's considered the father of fast food. One man volunteered to help, and eat just his burgers for 13 weeks straight. Left to die alone like an animal: Parents who left 23-stone disabled daughter to die in her own filth are Holiday home owners in Scotland face new SNP tax hike under plans from front-runner to be new First Scotland should just self-identify as an independent country, one SNP member proposed. "Ingram, Edgar Waldo (1880-1966), founder of the White Castle hamburger chain and the originator of American fast food" published on by Oxford University Press. Moment woman pedestrian, 49, swore at 77-year-old cycling on the pavement who then veered into road and was Are you allowing your bank to rip you off? They made me a throne out of White Castle Burgers. By the time Ray Krok turned it in 1955 into the fast food chain we know today, White Castle was well on its way to selling burger No. We see it as less about marketing and more about conversations. This level of focus on cleanliness and appearance has carried over to the modern day White Castle as well. Grinning and bearing it? 'If you franchise, while you can expand faster, you're giving up control of the operation,' says Lisa, who has an M.B.A. from Ohio State. But only one was the first. Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram, born in Colorado in 1880, opened a White Castle in 1921 and changed American eating habits forever. In 2014, Time Magazine declared our iconic Original Slider the most influential burger of all time. And since 2012s Hurricane Sandy, which devastated areas of the East Coast, White Castle has offered the Castle Shares Team Member Relief Program. He recently ordered 50 sliders at a Las Vegas White Castle just for fun. 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. Our focus is still on great value. Market data provided by Factset. Once pioneers in the industry, they now 'refer back to what great-grandfather Billy would do, forgetting the fact that it's 2014 and that's not really relevant anymore.'. Our goal is to continue to grow and stretch our overall profitability and business revenue. Every inch of the grill was dedicated for either the bread or the beef in small, square patties. Please direct all questions to iwcf@columbusfoundation.org or 614.545.0855. "Bill" Ingram III, who served for over 40 years before his daughter Lisa Ingram took . In August of 2018, when Cruz and O'Rourke were battling it out for Texas Senate supremacy, Cruz's spokesperson called his opponent a "Triple Meat Whataburger liberal who is out of touch with Texas values." 99%. Lisa Ingram, CEO of White Castle, joins "Squawk on the Street" to discuss reopening restaurants and the company's new automated robot. But while McDonalds and the two other burger chains dominate the American landscape, White Castle, with about 375 locations in 14 states, remains a niche chain. White Castle is now headed by Ingram's grandson Edgar Waldo Ingram III; Ingram Sr.'s son Ingram Jr had taken over the position of CEO following the co-founder's death in 1966. Anderson is credited with being the inventor of the hamburger The fourth White Castle, with the now familiar castle motif, in Wichita. By the time his son, Edgar, took over in 1966, White Castle had sold a billion burgers. The Colorado native founded the world's first burger chain, White Castle, in Wichita, Kansas, . For 43 years, Bill Ingham has been CEO of one of America's most iconic burger chains, one of just three bosses to take charge of the company since it began in Kansas 1921. Today more than ever, the next generation of customers is asking for authenticity and thats something we can claim with a clear conscience. This refusal to franchise hasn't come without a cost, of course. His original slider hamburger cost just 5 cents 101 years ago. Elizabeth Ingram Net Worth Elizabeth Ingram biography. . We reach traditional media like TV and radio, but its very targeted. Late comic book legend Stan Lee (1922-2018) a writer, editor, publisher and producer was a member of the White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame. He conceived of the brand White Castle to project a glistening, wholesome image. He is one of the members of the family that owns and operates the . The shame and despair of being physically attacked by your own child. This American is credited with creating the country's first fast-food joint here's his fascinating story, delicious, savory and mouth-filling flavors. Unlike many of its larger competitors, the privately owned chain has not relied on franchising to finance its growth. Meanwhile, White Castle continues to expand its Craver Nation. Elaine Miseta and White Castle's second president E. W. Ingram, Jr. White Castle originated in Wichita. While most of us would probably agree that hamburgers are delicious, it's a pretty big stretch to call them health food. The old White Castle logo when Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson first opened their very first White Castle in 1921. If Krispy Kreme is going to capitalize on National Doughnut Day and Popeyes is going to play along with National Buttermilk Biscuit Day, then you can bet that White Castle is going to jump on the bandwagon for National Slider Day. This means it isn't required to report information such as the CEO's salary. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, HEALTH NOTES: More workers hit the bottle to beat stress. Wife is shocked after husband of 15 years asks for permission to have an affair: 'I don't know what to do', My Daily Horoscope: What does March 2nd hold for MY star sign? White Castle supplements its in-store product with a vast fast-food business. Edgar Ingram (anb.org). Ingram had an answer in the form of an idea for a "scientific experiment.". White Castle founder Billy Ingram at the grill. when he and Ingram set out with $700 to open White Castle in . California had its own version of White Castle with the slider joint Coastal Castle. 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. 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Perhaps it's the small size of its iconic sliders, the mystique of its busy late night hours, or scarcity in certain states, but the company has been successful creating a "crave-worthy" business. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The Prestigious school where Princes William and Harry were educated is EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Prince William's potentially awkward visit to homelessness charity. McClendon planned that a subject would eat only White Castle hamburgers and water for thirteen weeks. The company was founded in 1921 by the late E.W. Even today, its expansion is slow as is still only in 12 states. Now is the perfect time to segue to another group of hungry customers the company has embraced. Most of his fortune is amassed from serving as the Assistant Vice President for White Castle System, Inc. Dave Rife started working for White Castle System, Inc. at a young age. COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of its 100 th birthday, White Castle held a virtual Birthday Bash last night for Craver fans everywhere. "We invented National Slider Day as a special tribute to the fans who share that appreciation for the slider and share their Cravings with us," White Castle VP Jamie Richardson, said in a press release. 10% of White Castle employees are Black or African American. For example, at a White Castle in Brooklyn, New York, its classic burger, really a slider, costs 85 each, its small French . Fast-food expert Jon Hein. Ms. Ingram has also served as President of White Castle System, Inc. since 2013 . Walter Anderson and Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram, Sr., formed the White Castle System of Eating Houses Corporation in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. World hot-dog eating champion and food legend Joey Chestnut is a White Castle enthusiast. The margins are different and that makes it difficult in company-owned restaurants. Today, if a Kansan gets a craving for a fresh White Castle slider they have to take a road trip to the nearest location in Columbia, Missouri. American businessman Dave Rife has an estimated net worth of $100 million in 2012. "Billy" Ingram and Walt Anderson, who sold his interest to Ingram a few years later. He invested $700, they formed White Castle and they opened their first eatery together in 1921 on Main Street in Wichita. The two men purposely decided on the color white along with porcelain countertops and stainless steel appliances because it gave the budding business a sense of cleanliness. 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. Nope. Long before there was a McDonalds, Burger King or Wendys, customers feasted on the burgers prepared by White Castle. 'Billy' Ingram, and will remain on the board after 35 years as CEO. "The White [was] to connote cleanliness," said brand spokesman Richardson. Frozen sliders are in grocery stores across the country along with White Castle mustard and coffee. You can still get a 10-sack of sliders for around $7, which can be shared by several people. Ingram, Jr. made an $11 million gift, providing additional resources for grantmaking. But most of its revenue growth derives from the products it sells in supermarkets, whose sales rose 23% last year. In addition to waiter service and roses, the company even rolled out special menu items like bite-sized shrimp nibblers (okay, so the menu items weren't that special). Disclamer: White Castle (restaurant) net worth displayed here are calculated based on a combination social factors. The burger eatery was the subject of the 2004 Hollywood comedy, "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.". Hungry fans were able to buy sliders for 90 cents (for two) before the company packed up and left once again for the Buckeye state. Billy Ingram founded White Castle, the world's first fast-food chain, in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. It's not so much that the company wants to keep its restaurants out of reach of aspiring business owners, but more about supply. The burger chain almost didn't even happen because Ingram had plans to go into the insurance business, but only decided to switch gears after meeting Anderson and being convinced that hamburgers were the way to go. `Edgar Waldo (Billy) Ingram, who co-founded the White Castle system of hamburger diners, at age 35. May 27, 2021, 05:00 ET. Legal Statement. Courtesy of White Castle. As a member of the family that owns the multi-million-dollar White Castle chain, Ingram probably has a significant share of the company's net worth. For more information about White Castle promo codes, reach out to your local store or . 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.". Private ownership has also let the company remain true to its roots instead of chasing fads and to cultivate something of a cult following. "Its just really simple, delicious comfort food." While touting the safety of White Castle hamburgers was something its founders didn't take lightly, maintaining a clean image was of equal importance. Keeping it in the family (qsrweb.com) "We've spent 65 years building up a reputation and we do not intend to have other people capitalize on it," Gail Turley, White Castle's director of advertising said. Jun 2000 - Present22 years 9 months. The Wichita, Kan., eatery served hamburger sandwiches, pie . 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. All they had to do was visit their website and print off or download the free slider coupon to their phone. Richardson: Being family-owned, our philosophy has been to not worry about being the biggest, but focus on being the best we can be. The entry-level wages paid to White Castle employees compare favorably with those at other fast-food chains. The group is named after Britain's Thomas Newcomen, the inventor of the steam engine.) 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. In 1921, partners Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram and Walter "Walt" Anderson opened the first White Castle restaurant in a 15x10-foot white cement-block building with five counter stools.