White Castle transforms restaurants for Valentine’s Day themed dinners that create memories

DETROIT — Valentine’s Day dinner at White Castle with candles, attentive servers and white tablecloths was a treasured experience for Krystal Gray and her mother, Cornelia Murphy.

This year, Gray will bring a photo of her mother, who died last spring at the age of 80, and place it on the table she still has reserved at one of the fast food chains in Ferndale, in suburban Detroit.

“It wouldn’t be the same without her,” Gray said. “I wanted something that would make me feel better because she couldn’t physically come.”

For 35 years, White Castle has been inviting lovers, loved ones and future lovers to an intimate meal in its restaurants. This year, all 325 White Castles with dining rooms in the United States are participating in the promotion, according to Jamie Richardson, marketing director for the Columbus, Ohio-based restaurant chain.

“That one day White Castle will become a castle of love,” Richardson said. “It’s something our customers look forward to. Many are repeat visitors on Valentine’s Day.”

The promotion began in 1991 and was only offered at White Castles in St. Louis and Minneapolis. Richardson said the goal was to offer “something fun and quirky and see if anyone wants to come and have a Valentine’s Day dinner at White Castle.”

Each participating restaurant receives a budget for decorations which can include red balloons, garlands and flowers. Reservations are required and open at the beginning of January. About 32,000 people celebrated Valentine’s Day dinner at a White Castle in 2025. Richardson says they’re aiming for more than 35,000 people this year.

“Some people arrive in limousines,” he said. “We will ask people to dress like it’s their wedding. We’ve had over 200 weddings at White Castle over the years.”

There’s just something about the thin slice of steamed grilled beef, brushed with mustard and ketchup with diced onions, cheese and a slice of pickle on a bun, that many can’t resist. Crinkle fries and a soft drink usually fill orders. Onion chips and chicken rings are also popular.

“It’s all the vibe, all the love and all the great memories for a fraction of the price,” Richardson said. “For a couple, if they really splurge, it costs about $20, or $25 if you get dessert on a stick.”

Ann Tubbs, district supervisor of nine “castles” in the Detroit and mid-Michigan areas, said customers tell her the affordability helps, but people continue to come because of the tradition and memories.

“I had a couple who announced their pregnancy,” Tubbs said. “People came with their children just to experience these moments, and others got engaged.”

Amy Richardson, 41, of Lincoln Park near Detroit, makes sure she, her three children and her spouse also dress for the role, wearing something pink or red and sometimes matching.

She said she has spent Valentine’s Day at a White Castle every year since 2012.

“I had just gotten into a new relationship and had a 3-year-old daughter,” she said of the first time. “We wanted to make it a kid-friendly place. The three of us packed up and went out for our date.”

The couple has since added two younger children and spends about $30 on Valentine’s Day meals for a family of five.

“We usually get the sliders, chicken rounds and mozzarella cheese sticks,” added Amy Richardson. “It’s more about nostalgia. It may be gimmicky, but it’s not a fancy restaurant where people disapprove of you bringing one or more young children.”

Waffle House, another national restaurant chain, will also mark its 18th year by offering a special themed dinner on Valentine’s Day. This was the first year that online reservations were made and many of the 218 participating Waffle House locations were booked as of late last week, according to spokeswoman Kelly Bruner.

Gray has made Valentine’s Day at White Castle something of a tradition, having done it about 10 times. Gray will be one of 14 fans inducted into White Castle’s “Craver’s Hall of Fame” in May. They were selected after submitting their White Castle stories.

This year, she will also share this day with her two young daughters in tribute to the memory of her mother.

“I just love the simplicity of it all: sitting there and spending time together,” she said. “Sometimes we can do too much and it goes too far to the point where you can’t really enjoy it – spending that much money. »