White Castle Closes 89-Year-Old St. Paul Restaurant as Historic Burger Chain Exits Flagship Location

An 89-year-old White Castle restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota, has permanently closed and been sold for $2.1 million, marking another closure for the historic burger chain as operators increasingly evaluate property values against business performance. The University Avenue location, which opened in 1937, represents one of the chain's oldest continuously operating sites and underscores a broader shift in the restaurant industry where even decades-old establishments face closure.

The End of an Era

White Castle sold the St. Paul property to SLSL Properties in June, according to filings with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. The buyer has not yet disclosed plans for the property. However, another former White Castle location in nearby Minneapolis, sold to the same buyer in 2024, was subsequently converted into a KFC franchise, signalling the broader redevelopment potential of these high-value real estate parcels.

St. Paul once hosted as many as seven White Castle locations, with three operating on University Avenue alone. The closure eliminates the final White Castle from that corridor, though the chain continues operating approximately 14 restaurants across the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including a location in Inver Grove Heights that opened in 1937.

Industry-Wide Pattern of Strategic Closures

The St. Paul shutdown is part of a series of White Castle closures in 2026. The chain also shuttered locations in Elmhurst, Queens in June; two Las Vegas properties in March; and a Brooklyn location in January. These reductions reflect operators' decisions to prioritize real estate monetization, particularly in markets where property values have risen significantly.

White Castle, founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas, is widely recognized as the world's first fast-food hamburger chain. Known for its signature square sliders, the company currently operates approximately 336 locations across the United States, primarily concentrated in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and neighbouring states, with limited presence in Nevada, New Mexico, and Florida. Unlike many chains, White Castle typically owns rather than franchises its restaurant properties, making real estate decisions a core business consideration.