Inductees into the 25^th anniversary class include friends who documented their Crave in a bestselling book, a mother and daughter who spent every Valentine’s Day together at White Castle, and a man who has shared Sliders and memories with his father, grandfather and children

Fourteen of White Castle’s most loyal and passionate fans were inducted into the White Castle Cravers Hall of Fame yesterday at White Castle’s home office in Columbus. They are the 25^th class of Cravers to be inducted.

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White Castle inducted its newest class of Cravers into the Cravers Hall of Fame on April 29.

Induction into the Cravers Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor for individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary devotion and love for White Castle. The 14 members of the Class of 2025 joined just 287 other passionate Cravers who have been inducted since White Castle created the Cravers Hall of Fame in 2001.

“Every year, the Cravers Hall of Fame reminds us that White Castle is about so much more than Sliders. It’s about the memories, traditions and connections our fans create around them,” said Jamie Richardson, White Castle’s chief marketing officer. “This year’s inductees represent the very best of that passion, and we’re honored to celebrate the stories that make the Crave truly one of a kind.”

The induction ceremony capped off a two-day, all-expenses-paid visit to Columbus, where inductees were treated to dinner and breakfast at White Castle, a behind-the-scenes tour of the home office and a reception in their honor. They also received a plaque commemorating their special place in the Cravers Hall of Fame.

As part of the ceremony, members of the 2025 class of inductees spent a few minutes talking about their personal connection to the brand that launched the fast-food industry in 1921. The inductees’ stories were sometimes funny, sometimes poignant and sometimes unbelievable, but they were always very personal and heartfelt testaments to the ways in which White Castle has touched their lives and created memorable moments.

Each year, hundreds of Cravers submit their White Castle stories in hopes of being chosen for the Cravers Hall of Fame, and this year was no exception. The judges — a mix of White Castle team members and partners along with members of the family that owns White Castle — carefully reviewed each entry and chose the inductees based on their loyalty to the brand, their creative presentation, the originality of their story and the magnitude of their Crave.

Nominations for the 2026 class of Cravers Hall of Famers can be submitted now through White Castle’s website here.

White Castle congratulates the 2025 class of inductees into its Cravers Hall of Fame

1. Robert Anderson, Plymouth, Minnesota
   Robert’s Crave was years in the making. Growing up in a small Midwestern town, nowhere close to a White Castle, he heard tales of the little square burgers with soft buns and steamy onions whose taste could only be described as magical. He finally got to experience a Slider when he was in college. Living about an hour from a White Castle, he and his friends took a late-night road trip for Sliders, and it was love at first bite. That first taste sparked years of Slider-fueled drives until life took him to the U.K., where his Crave went unfulfilled for nearly two decades. When Robert returned to the U.S. a couple of years ago with his wife and four kids, he had one nonnegotiable: a home near a White Castle. Now living just 10 minutes away from one, Robert is enjoying weekly “Slider Safaris” with his oldest daughter, proving the Crave is truly a family tradition.
   
   
2. Wayne Teng, San Mateo, California, and Hansel Lynn, Palo Alto, California
   Wayne and Hansel — better known as “theCoderBros” and founders of “theCoderSchool” — turned a college introduction to White Castle into a full-blown, lifelong Crave. Bonding in the late ’90s over their first Slider experience at Washington University in St. Louis, the duo has spent decades chasing that unmistakable taste from their homes in California, where Castles are nowhere to be found. Their dedication has led to several business trips strategically planned around White Castle visits. Once they took a late-night, $60 Uber ride just to get a sack of Sliders, and another time they snuck away from their own franchise convention in Las Vegas for multiple Crave runs. Along the way, they’ve celebrated their passion through a podcast inspired by their adventures and their best-selling book, “theCoderBros Go To White Castle,” an homage to the famous film “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.” Whether crossing the country or skipping five-star meals for White Castle, theCoderBros prove that when the Crave calls, nothing stands in the way.
   
   
3. Bill Hillegonds, Cedar Lake, Indiana
   Bill has spent nearly 30 years as a youth pastor working with teens. During that time, he has introduced many of them to White Castle, giving them their very first taste of The Original Slider. A proud Craver from northwest Indiana, Bill has made it a personal mission to seek out Castles wherever he goes, visiting more than 100 locations along the way. His love for White Castle is so well known that his students have learned how to speak his language. When a group of them once asked him to drive them to an Ed Sheeran concert in Chicago, they came prepared, mapping out every White Castle along the route. Bill happily agreed. The students got their unforgettable night of music, and Bill checked six new Castles off his list, showing once again that where there’s a Crave, there’s always a way.
   
   
4. Krystal Gray and Cornelia Murphy, Detroit, Michigan
   For this Detroit mother and daughter, White Castle wasn’t just a meal, it was a lifelong bond. Their story began decades ago, when Cornelia worked at White Castle in the 1960s, proudly wearing her crisp white uniform and serving 15-cent Sliders. Years later, White Castle turned into a shared experience for Cornelia and her daughter, Krystal. Together, they made regular trips to White Castle, including on Valentine’s Day, a tradition Krystal referred to as “Sliders with Mama.” No matter what life brought — new relationships, hectic schedules or excess responsibilities — that day was always theirs, although they often invited others to join in their joy. In 2025, Krystal shared her final Valentine’s Day “Sliders with Mama,” as Cornelia passed away two months later. Now, Krystal is carrying the tradition forward with her own young daughters, ensuring the love, memories and Crave they shared will live on with another generation.
   
   
5. Andrew Meador, Powell, Ohio, and Chad Wood, Idyllwild, California
   Andrew’s Crave began with a movie night. After watching “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” with his college roommate Chad, the two set out on a late-night run for frozen Sliders, only to be told by a store clerk that if they truly loved White Castle, they had to try the real thing. That challenge sparked a pilgrimage from Athens, West Virginia, to Columbus, Ohio, where the duo experienced their first restaurant Sliders. Andrew was hooked for life. The trip ultimately led him to move to Columbus, where he’s spent nearly two decades as a devoted Craver. Wanting to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of his and Chad’s introduction to White Castle, Andrew reached out to Chad, who lived across the country. The former roommates, who hadn’t seen each other in 14 years, agreed to reunite in Las Vegas for a trip to White Castle. Together, they again shared Sliders, demonstrating that great friendships — and the Crave — only get stronger with time.
   
   
6. Cort Hamilton, Columbus, Ohio
   What started as a funny dare turned into one of Cort’s most unforgettable experiences. In the fall of 2024, he suited up as a full-sized White Castle Slider to run the Columbus Half Marathon benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital. What seemed like a lighthearted stunt quickly became a true test of endurance, as he ran 13.1 miles in a very hot costume that brought nonstop attention. But mile after mile, something bigger took shape. Cheers of “Long Live Sliders” rang out and strangers rallied around him. As he ran, he discovered the heart behind White Castle and its people. What began as a joke became a powerful reminder: Sometimes the most unexpected journeys create the most lasting memories.
   
   
7. Sloan Hastings, Zanesville, Ohio
   For Sloan, the Crave is a family heirloom. It began with his father, who would come home late at night from long factory shifts with a sack of White Castle Sliders. The crinkle of the bag and the aroma of grilled onions drew Sloan out of bed, and he and his dad would spend quiet moments together enjoying the little square burgers. Years later, Sloan carried on the tradition with his grandfather, bringing Sliders to lift his spirits on the toughest nights when he was battling cancer. Then, as a young father balancing night classes and a newborn, Sloan found motivation in those same familiar flavors, pushing him forward when exhaustion set in. Today, he brings home sacks of Sliders for his own children to enjoy. For Sloan, White Castle is more than a meal. It’s a symbol of connection and legacy that continues to bring generations together.
   
   
8. Elisa Hoffman and Raiden Smith, Marshall, Texas
   Elisa knows her son Raiden’s love for White Castle isn’t just a phase — it’s a full-blown, lifelong Crave. Raiden hoped to go on a road trip to White Castle for his birthday. When that wasn’t possible, Elisa brought White Castle to him with the help of the brand’s retail Sliders. She planned a celebration where every guest got their own Slider meal. Raiden’s feast recreated the iconic Harold and Kumar order: 50 Sliders, fries and a drink. The party was decked out in White Castle style, complete with themed gifts and a Slider-inspired cake. Raiden’s devotion runs deep. He’s already planning to serve Sliders at his wedding. For Elisa, it’s clear: Her son isn’t just a fan, he’s a true Craver through and through.
   
   
9. John Leonard Harris, Lincoln, Nebraska
   White Castle has been part of John’s family for as long as he can remember. John grew up in St. Louis in a household of nine. Sundays meant piling into the station wagon after church and heading straight to White Castle, where his father would order 50 Sliders to feed the whole crew, a tradition built on great taste and unbeatable value. Today, even though he lives hours from the nearest Castle, John’s Crave remains just as strong. Whenever he returns home, a stop for Sliders is nonnegotiable. He often brings back dozens to share with friends and family. On one memorable trip, a social media post turned his return into a neighborhood event, with fellow Cravers lining up in his driveway for a taste. John’s story confirms that the White Castle Crave always brings people together.
   
   
10. Evan Darnell, Delray Beach, Florida
    White Castle was the one place where Evan and his father were always in sync. Growing up in New Jersey, the two couldn’t have been more different: his father, a quiet lawyer who loved books; Darnell, always on the move and always hungry. But at the White Castle in Eatontown, they found common ground. Sitting together in a booth, sharing Sliders and conversation, those moments became their bond. No matter how many they ordered, it was never quite enough, but it was always just right for time together. Years later, those experiences helped inspire Evan’s “Red Meat Lovers Club,” a philanthropy club built around food, community and giving back. For Evan, White Castle isn’t just about the Crave — it’s about the moments that brought a father and son together.

About White Castle^®

White Castle, America’s first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders since 1921. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the family-owned business owns and operates 334 restaurants as well as a retail division providing its famous fare in freezer aisles of retail stores nationwide. As part of its commitment to offering the highest quality products, White Castle owns and operates its own Slider Provider meat plants, bakeries and frozen-Slider retail plants. White Castle has earned numerous accolades over the years including “Most Influential Burger of All Time” by Time magazine (2014, The Original Slider^®) and one of the “10 Most Innovative Dining Companies” by Fast Company (2021). White Castle is known for the legendary engagement of its team members and has received the Great Place to Work^® Certification™ for an extraordinary five consecutive years spanning 2021–2026. White Castle is beloved by its passionate fans (Cravers), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app makes it easy for Cravers to sign up for the CRAVER NATION REWARDS^® loyalty program, access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. For more information on White Castle and how to Follow Your Crave, visit whitecastle.com.

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White Castle inducted 14 passionate fans into its Cravers Hall of Fame on April 29.