Fans Show Up Early for New White Castle Restaurant

Two dozen fans were waiting when the new opened Sunday morning at 401 Lincoln Highway in New Lenox.

 “It was a very nice crowd,” said Bill Thompson, regional director of restaurant operations for White Castle. “They were enthusiastic.”

One of the fans was Chuck Soukup, 36, of New Lenox, who attended the opening with his wife, mom, sister and brother-in-law.

“I’m a major White Castle fan,” he said sporting a blue White Castle sweatshirt. “I wanted to be first in line when I got here at 8:30 a.m. but I was third.”

Soukup said he won’t let that disappointment get in the way of enjoying sliders in the future.

“I live so close,” he said. “I’ll be driving past here every day of the week on the way to and from the train station. I’ll definitely be back.”

What did he have? “My staple: A No. 1 with cheese.” That would be four sliders with cheese.

Three students from Lincoln-Way West High School also made the trek Sunday morning.

Jeremy Puttkammer and Tyler Dawson, both 16, split a 10-pack of the steamed burgers for breakfast. Their buddy, Nick Dybas, also 16, limited himself to three burgers.

When asked what other eateries they would like to see open in New Lenox, they split their vote. Chipotle was the favorite for Jeremy and Tyler, while Nick said he wants a Buffalo Wild Wings in town. Until then, though, they are more than satisfied with White Castle.

“Oh, yeah,” all three said in unison when asked if they would return.

Laura Petrone came out with her daughter, Sara, and her daughter’s friend, Erin Doody. They made a small dent in a Crave Case (30 burgers) and were taking the rest home.

“This is very nice,” Petrone said of the dining room. “We don’t often eat inside. We usually take it home, but I would return to eat here.”

Both girls, students at Martino School in New Lenox, said they liked having a White Castle so close.

"We used to have to go to 191st and LaGrange in Mokena," Sara Petrone said.

Another family happy to see White Castle in town was Jim Kapsalis, his wife Laura and their 9-year-old son Jimmy.

“We are all very excited,” Kapsalis said. “Jimmy wanted to be first. We’ve been waiting for White Castle to open. We’ve watched the progress as the construction was going on.”

“This is nice to see,” Laura Kapsalis said.

Jimmy, a student at Bentley School, didn’t say much but held fast to a bag containing what was left of a Crave Case.

He did have one piece of advice for the village fathers on what new restaurant to bring to New Lenox now that White Castle had arrived. “We need a Hooters.”

His father agreed. “Hooters would be nice.”

Mom had a different idea. “How about an Outback?”

White Castle opened at 9 a.m. after a private ribbon cutting ceremony Friday morning. The eatery will employ 40 workers, and like all other White Castles is open 24 hours.

Located on one of the Lincoln Highway out lots in front of the new Walmart, which opened in November, White Castle will be joined in April by Culver’s, which is going up two lots over.

“I hear Sonic may be joining us, as well,” said Thompson indicating the vacant lot next door.