White Castle Opens Up Its Kitchen

White Castle has unveiled a quick-service spin on exhibition cooking with what it calls its “kitchen of the future.” The Elizabethtown, Ky., store, a test-drive for future expansion, features a stainless and glass griddle set within a wall-free kitchen that allows patrons to see their burgers being prepped, cooked and wrapped. The design is a nod to the Columbus, Ohio, chain’s early days; when it was founded in Wichita, Kans., in 1921, White Castle had to change Americans’ perception of hamburgers as meat patties created from leftovers in the slaughterhouse. The chain offered its customers a peek into the kitchens and emphasized sanitation for its stainless and porcelain restaurant interiors.

The new unit replaces a demolished store and has a seating capacity of more than twice its predecessor. It also boasts an updated décor, four flat-screen TVs and other customer-comfort amenities. The family-owned chain owns and operates more than 400 restaurants in 12 states.