He conceived of the brand White Castle to project a glistening, wholesome image. The one . Private ownership has also let the company remain true to its roots instead of chasing fads and to cultivate something of a cult following. Jan. 11, 2021. 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. (Getty Images). As McDonald's and other burger franchises dominate the American landscape, White Castle with approximately 375 locations in 14 states, remains a modest . 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. Revenue was up a modest 1.8% in 2018. ", The movie "Saturday Night Fever" (1977) featured a scene filmed in a White Castle restaurant, bringing nationwide recognition to the regional brand. While most burger chains proliferate by franchising, White Castle has avoided giving up control. 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. The Ingrams 'worship the past,' says David Gerard Hogan, professor of history at Heidelberg University and author of Selling 'Em by the Sack: White Castle and the Creation of American Food. He recently ordered 50 sliders at a Las Vegas White Castle just for fun. "It was like a love letter to White Castle," said Richardson, White Castle's then-director of marketing. "Billy" Ingram, founded White Castle in 1921, making it the world's first quick-service burger concept. In 2014, Time Magazine declared our iconic Original Slider the most influential burger of all time. Elizabeth Ingram Net Worth Elizabeth Ingram biography. Outgoing White Castle CEO Bill Ingram with Elaine Miseta in 1967. "Castle to indicate permanence and stability. 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. I ate it," he said. Born: 26-Nov-1880 Birthplace: St. Mary's, KS Died: 13-Dec-1963 Location of death: Eastborough, KS Cause of death: unspecified Remains: Burie. All rights reserved. "Billy" Ingram and Walt Anderson, who sold his interest to Ingram a few years later. Celebrity Net Worth and similar websites peg Rife's net worth at $100 million, giving us a ballpark figure for Ingram. In 1934 he moved the company headquarters to Columbus, Ohio. It remains privately held today, and its restaurants, all in the U.S., are all company owned; none is franchised. Richardson: Our biggest surprise of 2019 was delivery sales. 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. Building communities remains a focus for Ingram and the White Castle brand. The only other time White Castle units close is on Christmas. White Castle enjoyed a trophy silver screen moment in the landmark 1977 film "Saturday Night Fever" when Brooklyn disco celebrity Tony Manero (John Travolta) takes his date to the burger joint with his classless buddies. It was back in 1921 when Billy Ingram took out a $700 loan and, with friend Walt Anderson, opened a shack in Wichita, Kansas. Billy Ingram founded White Castle, the world's first fast-food chain, in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921. Bill is the grandson of White Castle founder Billy Ingram, son of the company's second CEO E.W. Published: 19:52 GMT, 20 December 2015 | Updated: 22:56 GMT, 20 December 2015. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER, Millions of American teenagers who had never heard of the regional brand were turned onto the magic of White Castle by the Beastie Boys in their celebrated 1986 debut album "Licensed to Ill.". During the past nine decades, the fast-food chain has also continued to be managed by the very same family that founded it. Each year, White Castle and the Ingram-White Castle Foundation, founded in 1949, donate more than $2 million to a variety of charities across the nation, including more than $8 million for Autism Speaks in the last 10 years. Market data provided by Factset. . 414 is Martha Ingram, whose family controls Ingram Industries. Two much bigger burger rivals pay their crew members $9.11 to $9.83 an hour, according to Indeed's Wendy's webpageand Indeed's McDonald's figures. White Castle supplements its in-store product with a vast fast-food business. Its sliders are available in the frozen-food aisle of supermarkets in all 50 states. Even today, its expansion is slow as is still only in 12 states. White Castle founder Billy Ingram at the grill. As it should be! "Part of the agreement from purchasing it from Indiana Landmarks is that the purchaser has to restore the exterior brick," Jason Hartman, the building's new owner said. White Castle has survived in the fast food industry for nearly 100 years. The perks of being a rock star. Walter A. Anderson c9-founded the White Castle chain selling small square hamburgers. "Its just really simple, delicious comfort food." Two years from today, what do you expect? Unless you've been living under a rock, you know "vegan"has become a major buzz word in the food industry in the last several years. For access to live and. It was some pretty strange trash talking and more than a little confusing to a lot Texans who were quick to proclaim on social media just how much they enjoyed triple meat Whataburgers. In just the past 20 years, sales have more than doubled to $675 million and the chain added about 100 stores. (White Castle made $738.3 million in 2019, according to The Business Journals. They also appointed outsiders to the company's board which was a success. For those who have truly taken their love of burgers to the next level specifically White Castle sliders the White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame awaits. 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. One way the Ingram-White Castle Foundation honors that legacy today is to help students achieve their educational dreams through scholarships. Distributing Plant in Vandalia, Ohio, on April 30, 2014. There are now 400 restaurants in 13 states. "It's easier to get into Harvard than the Cravers Hall of Fame," said White Castle spokesman Jamie Richardson. For having nearly a century of business under its belt, White Castle could certainly be one of the largest fast food chains in the United States, if not the world. With just $700, Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram and Walter Anderson opened a tiny white, castle-looking burger shack in Wichita, Kansas. Richardson: We opened three including a large location in Scottsdale, Arizona, our first in that state. Billy Ingram died in Columbus on May 20, 1966, after battling a short illness. The margins are different and that makes it difficult in company-owned restaurants. Its classic white castle buildings adorned cities starting in 1921 when it was started by Billy Ingram. 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 1933, the company made a transition in ownership. 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.'. Charles D Kamer. Fail to change and you risk getting left behind. "Yep. Dave Rife net worth is $100 Million Dave Rife Wiki Biography. The Wichita, Kan., eatery served hamburger sandwiches, pie . According to The New York Post, the lawsuit was eventually dropped once White Castle provided proper gut space with new seating. 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. 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? Here you can find 12 years worth of articles on everything from how to avoid dodgy scams to writing an effective complaint letter. Started in 1921, by Edgar Waldo "Billy" Ingram, a Wichita real estate and insurance agent and Walt Anderson, who created a tiny, square hamburger. Ingram, Jr. and the father of fourth-generation leader Lisa Ingram. Billy bought out Anderson in 1933 and moved the operation to Columbus a year later. The patties of today also have small holes punched into them thanks to a suggestion from employee Earl Howell in 1954. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! This level of focus on cleanliness and appearance has carried over to the modern day White Castle as well. After midnight, it goes from White Castle to Night Castle after a night of reverie. `Edgar Waldo (Billy) Ingram, who co-founded the White Castle system of hamburger diners, at age 35. In order to get the misinformed public in the door and ordering his White Castle hamburgers, Ingram worked out a deal with the University of Minnesota to research the health of the food. The Ingram-White Castle Foundation has given $1.5 . In some ways, White Caslte is stuck in limbo. At least as far as romantics who like to spend February 14 dining over fast food are concerned. The following year, Billy decided to move all company operations from Wichita to a more centralized location at 555 Goodale Street in Columbus, Ohio. Billy . White Castle also pays into employees' 401(k) retirement plans, offers tuition reimbursement to employees in school, and provides financial and other forms of support for workers who are facing difficulties. Credit or blame, as the case may be entrepreneur Billy Ingram. But most of its revenue growth derives from the products it sells in supermarkets, whose sales rose 23% last year. 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." Hooray! World hot-dog eating champion and food legend Joey Chestnut is a White Castle enthusiast. He leaves the helm of a company much bigger than the one he inherited. The mobile app showed that an impressive 21 percent of the chain's business happens during that late night six-hour block. (Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images). Journalist Upton Sinclair had published "The Jungle," his scathing novel of the meatpacking industry, in 1906. Sells in supermarkets, whose family controls Ingram Industries some ways, White Castle just fun... Through scholarships spend February 14 dining over fast food industry for nearly 100 years added about 100 stores Anderson who! The one he inherited ) Ingram, who co-founded the White Castle supplements its in-store product a. 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