• by Teresa Buyikian , Yesterday

Customers who visit the newly revamped White Castle in central Ohio may want to bring a housewarming gift.

The brand has rolled out its "Castle of Tomorrow" in Columbus, a prototype that is the “next evolution of the brand's 104-year commitment to innovation, hospitality and quality.”

The newly revamped White Castle location features “a bright and welcoming dining room with higher ceilings, vibrant colors and a sleek, open layout.” The location has added a  dedicated mobile order pickup window and a new double drive-thru, which includes what the chain refers to as “hospitality doors,” which enable employees to personally deliver meals to customers in their cars.

"Every detail, from the kitchen layout to the mobile ordering experience, was designed to help our team members shine and to make every Craver's visit more enjoyable and efficient. It's the 'Castle of tomorrow,' built with the heart and soul that's defined us for more than a century," says Jamie Richardson, vice president at White Castle, in a press release.

Outside, the restaurant maintains its classic White Castle architecture, with new sleek accents and lighting. The revamped location also boasts a first-of-its-kind brand sign that reads "White Castle" by day and "Night Castle" after dark.

The kitchen has been redesigned to emphasize efficiency, with streamlined prep zones and upgraded break spaces.

Behind the counter, the company has installed the latest version of Flippy, its robotic fry station assistant, and Julia, White Castle's proprietary AI-powered drive-thru ordering system (The name “Julia actually came from longtime White Castle employee Julia Joyce). The chain has also added self-service kiosks, in addition to maintaining traditional counter service.