Goodyear White Castle to host grand opening June 11

White Castle announced Wednesday that it will host a grand opening celebration for its Goodyear location June 11.

The restaurant will be between McDowell Road and Interstate 10 on Bullard Avenue. According to a press release, the location will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.  (After opening day, regular business hours will be from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. daily.)

The grand opening celebration will begin at 8 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting by assembled Cravers Hall of Famers and White Castle family members. The event will also see an appearance by White Castle’s Town Crier.

"We are honored to welcome White Castle to Goodyear, which has been one of the most requested restaurants in the city's 2021 and 2023 Retail Surveys,” said Mayor Pizzillo in a statement. “White Castle is an iconic brand known for its delicious sliders and will be a great addition to our community. We look forward to a fantastic partnership and many memories that will be made when White Castle becomes a part of the Goodyear experience!”

The location will feature 52 dining room seats, a covered patio with 14 outdoor seats, and a double drive-thru. The facility housing the chain will contain digital interior menu boards and an AI-assisted menu board in the drive-thru. The AI drive-thru system at the location, called “Julia,” is named after Julia Joyce, a beloved host at White Castle in the 1930s.

“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. “White Castle has always prioritized hot and tasty affordable food, and we can’t wait to create more memories with this Castle in Goodyear.”

The Midwest chain, which started in Kansas, successfully spread north towards the Chicago area and east in places like Boston. In the past, the chain has been popularized in movies such as “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.”

According to a Goodyear press release, the restaurant will be Arizona’s third location and will create 50 new jobs.