Grilled onions are the iconic smell customers remember when they walk into a White Castle. Luckily for Daytona Beach, a new White Castle has opened in the heart of it.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, a crowd waited outside the newest Castle to experience “The Crave.” Since the first, and largest, free-standing White Castle opened in Orlando near Disney in 2021, three more Castles have opened in the Sunshine State. Before this one, another location opened in Kissimmee on May 5.
Lines formed at eight in the morning and continued to grow closer to the 9 a.m. grand opening. By the time the slider-box ribbon was cut, cars circled the new Castle’s double-lane drive-thru, and customers were lined up on three of the four corners.
The grand procession started with Jamie T. Richardson, White Castle’s Chief Marketing Officer, getting the crowd excited for the opening. There was a fanfare trumpet player leading in the royal court, which consisted of Craver Hall of Famer Jeff Sedlitz, Daytona’s general manager, Kenneth Espinal, and White Castle’s President and Chief Administrative Officer, Anthony Joseph.
“A Castle truly becomes a Castle when neighbors walk through the doors, and Daytona Beach showed up for us today. We are grateful for such a warm welcome and look forward to being part of this community for generations to come,” said Joseph in a statement.
During the festivities, Volusia County Commissioner Dannette Henry spoke on behalf of Mayor Derrick Henry to the crowd, welcoming everyone in attendance and looking to the future about all of the wonderful things that they can do together in this community.
“I remember when this was nothing but trees and bushes all up and down this particular area,” Henry said. “So happy for the jobs that it’s going to bring. So happy to have this brand here, this brand who believes in community, who believes in family, and believes in what we are trying to do in the city of Daytona Beach.”
Daytona Beach and Volusia County are rapidly growing due to people moving and relocating to the area. Close to the Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona Tanger Outlets, this Castle location was highly requested and in demand, as Regional Director Theresa Kaszubski explains.
“When you think about it, there’s also our residents,” Kaszubski said. “Here in Volusia County, Daytona Beach, and then there’s the tourism. We’re very, very close to the racetrack, and there’s a lot of events. We’re close to the beach, and I hear Bike Week is upon us. So, we will have regular Cravers and long-distance Cravers.”
White Castle has been a family-owned business for over 100 years, and Kaszubski has been in the family for 46 years. Starting off in high school, she grew with the company as they were interested in developing managers, and “took that little step-ladder up to success,” she said. Now, as Regional Director, Kaszubski is in charge of the Florida market, Columbus, Ohio, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Arizona. Kaszubski explained that she will be with White Castle until she retires.
There are plans to open two more White Castles in Florida: one in St. Augustine and another in Lake Nona.
Located at 1944 LPGA Boulevard, Daytona Beach, White Castle Daytona Beach is currently open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., and is working to become a 24-hour location.
