The world's largest free-standing White Castle has officially opened its doors in Orlando.
Hundreds of customers lined up overnight to be among the first served at the fast-food burger shop and by Monday morning they were cheering and chanting during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and many others were in attendance, including eager customer Sheila Santiago, a 49-year-old from New York now living in Orlando who worked at the chain as a teenager.
"It just brings back a little nostalgia. Being from New York City, it’s a little piece of home," she told the Orlando Sentinel.
"Disney's got Cinderella's castle, we've got the world's largest White Castle," a restaurant official present at the grand opening told WOFL during the ceremony.
White Castle owns and operates more than 360 restaurants in 13 states and its newest edition spans 4,567 square feet and features two drive-thru lanes along with indoor and outdoor seating. Customers can order the restaurant's token square-shaped hamburgers or opt for other items on the menu, including sloppy joe, chicken, and waffle sliders as well as side dishes like mac 'n cheese nibblers and corn dog nibblers.
The Orlando branch will be open for take-out, dine-in, and drive-thru services from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday and then reopen on Tuesday with operating hours 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week, according to WOFL. Customers are limited to a maximum of 60 sliders per order on opening day.
White Castle is also encouraging its customers to get their COVID-19 vaccinations by offering a complimentary dessert-on-a-stick until May 31 to those who have had the shot.
"From the start of the pandemic, we've shared the message that there is 'unity in community,'" said Jamie Richardson, a vice president at White Castle. "We're thankful the vaccines are now widely available to all citizens 16 and over so that every adult can do their part to help our country return to all that we love and Crave."
Customers can choose between one of four versions of its dessert on a stick: Gooey Buttercake-on-a-Stick, Fudge Dipped Brownie-on-a-Stick, Fudge Dipped Cheesecake-on-a-Stick, and, as of April, the new Birthday Cake-on-a-Stick in honor of the company's 100th birthday this year. Customers will be required to share proof that they have received a COVID-19 vaccination, but need not make any other purchases to receive their desserts.
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Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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