ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — White Castle, preparing for the scheduled opening of its southwest Orlando Castle this spring, will reopen its virtual kitchen for online pickup orders only at 10 a.m. Thursday, Vice President Jamie T. Richardson said in a statement Wednesday.
"We will not be taking delivery orders through Uber Eats for now, but do look forward to offering that service soon," Richardson said.
What You Need To Know
- Orlando White Castle to start taking pickup orders again Thursday
- White Castle launched virtual kitchen and delivery Tuesday in Orlando
- The site will not take delivery orders for now, a company vice president said
On Tuesday, White Castle announced the launch of a virtual kitchen and delivery system and apparently got more business than they expected. They paused online ordering in the early afternoon, and the virtual kitchen orders remained closed Wednesday.
"We never want to disappoint any fans of the Castle ever," Richardson said. "With that in mind, our Orlando White Castle virtual kitchen will remain closed on Wednesday as we invest some time to prepare."
In announcing the suspension of delivery orders Tuesday, Richardson said, “We knew the first day for our White Castle virtual kitchen would be big — and it has been even bigger than expected. We did pause online ordering to make certain we’re able to take great care of all of our customer orders. We anticipate being ‘live’ again soon. Thanks to all for their patience. We’re looking forward to satisfying White Castle cravings here in the days, months and years to come.”
The nearly 100-year-old company has not announced a specific date to open the world’s largest, free-standing White Castle in a new development off Interstate 4 north of Walt Disney World. The 4,567-square foot restaurant will include indoor and outdoor seating and two drive-through lanes, and it's expected to create 120 new jobs.
As of Thursday, orders for pickup only can be placed through the White Castle app or at order.whitecastle.com.
White Castle operates its virtual kitchen space in an Orlando commercial facility and hired 25 team members for its delivery operations.
When it does relaunch, the delivery menu is expected to be limited, including its Original Slider and other favorites like chicken rings, crinkle-cut French fries and mozzarella cheese sticks. Consumers can also choose to order online and pick up their order at 18 North Dollins Ave.