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White Castle plans restaurant in Goodyear as it continues Arizona pushWhite Castle plans restaurant in Goodyear as it continues Arizona push

Quick-service slider restaurant will feature artificial-intelligence menu board in drive-thru

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

January 10, 2024

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White Castle, the quick-service slider restaurant concept, plans to expand its presence in Arizona to a third location in Goodyear by the end of 2024, the company said Wednesday.

White Castle, the quick-service slider restaurant concept, plans to expand its presence in Arizona to a third location in Goodyear by the end of 2024, the company said Wednesday.

The Columbus, Ohio-based chain, first entered Arizona with a restaurant in Scottsdale in October 2019, and it opened a second in Tempe this past November.

“The response of cravers everywhere in the Valley of the Sun has been amazing through our first two openings in Arizona,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle, in a statement. 

A spokesperson said the Goodyear restaurant will be a blend of tradition and new technology. It will feature classic menu items, including the steamed burger on a bed of onions and slider bun, as well as “Julia,” the new artificial-intelligence-assisted menu board in the drive-thru. The Goodyear location is expected to open late this year.

The company said the 3,220-square-foot White Castle will be at 1420 N. Bullard Ave., near the intersection of McDowell Road just north of Interstate 10 in Goodyear. 

It will feature 52 dining room seats, a covered patio with 14 outdoor seats, and a double drive-thru. State-of-the-art technology will include digital interior menu boards and the new AI-assisted menu board in the drive-thru. The AI drive-thru technology at White Castle is called “Julia,” named for Julia Joyce, a host at White Castle in the 1930s.

Related:White Castle’s newest location showcases an attractive Arizona market

White Castle’s first location in Scottsdale opened in October 2019. The second Castle location in Arizona opened Nov. 28 in Tempe.

White Castle, founded in 1921, was named a “Brand Icon” by Nation’s Restaurant News in 2022. White Castle has about 350 restaurants systemwide.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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