| Eateries |
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| WHITE TOWER |
| White Tower Restaurants were inspired by the White Castle chain. The first White Castle opened in 1921. The first White Tower opened in 1926 in Milwaukee, WI. They both had white castle-like buildings. White Towers were built in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston and other large cities. By 1948, the chain had over 250 locations nationwide. Today, there are only a few left in Ohio still in operation. For more about White Towers, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. There is also a 1979 book, "White Towers" by Paul Hirshorn and Steven Izenour. |
| Yummy Burger Dayton, OH |
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| former White Tower Dayton, OH |
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| Wympee Drive In Dayton, OH |
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The Yummy Burger and the Wympee Drive In are just across the street from one another. The Yummy Burger was previously a White Tower which opened in 1948. In 2006, the White Lotus Café and Diner, a Thai food restaurant, took over the building. The Yummy Burger sign has been adapted to reflect the new name. [third photo thanks Steve Koons]
The Wympee was not a White Tower but I'll include it here simply because of its similar style and its proximity to the other two restaurants. This building from 1938 is pretty much in original condition. It is the last remaining location of the local chain. The name came from the Wimpy cartoon character who was especially fond of hamburgers. The restaurant had carhops from the 1940s until 1955 and was once open 24 hours. There are 25 stools inside. For more, see this website. Just a couple blocks away, Dayton's other remaining White Tower, built in 1941, was converted into "Smokin'", a BBQ place in 2005. The canopies were replaced, the lights removed, and the interior was completely redone. The White Tower sign was replaced with a new one but the beanpole support was reused. |
| former White Tower Cambridge, MA |
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| This former Cambridge White Tower was built in 1932 and closed in 1973. It is now home to Moody's Falafel Palace. For more, see this website. |
| former White Tower Albany, NY |
former White Tower Worcester, MA |
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The former Albany White Tower was built in 1937 and moved twice. From 1986 to 1999, it was used as the QE2 nightclub. It is now home to the Fuze Box Lounge.
The Worcester White Tower opened in 1932 and closed in 1973. In the late 1980s, it was a pizza parlor with a White Tower Restaurant next door (no relation, just used the name). The main part of the building was most recently used as a nail salon. There was a restaurant on the side called "White Tower" that sold Chinese food. In 2006, the building was empty. |
| former White Tower Syracuse, NY |
former White Tower [gone] New Haven, CT |
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The former Syracuse White Tower is now Lotsa Pasta. In 2003, its nearly intact interior was basically gutted. Only some white paneled walls remain now. For more, see this website.
The former New Haven White Tower was built in 1941 and closed in 1980. The building was transformed into Villa del Sol, a Mexican Restaurant. The stainless steel doors and lights appeared to be from the Tower days. The building was destroyed in 2006. |
| DiNic's (moved) Mount Ephraim, NJ |
Roney's Collingswood, NJ |
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DiNic's, a former White Tower, had a well-preserved interior with seven stools. This White Tower opened here around 1946 and was previously known as Roney's. DiNic's was known for its roast beef and pork sandwiches. They have two other locations in Philadelphia, PA. In 2006, this building was sold and moved to a private residence in Morgantown, WV. A Walgreens will be built on the NJ site.
This Roney's is a well-concealed former White Tower. It was previously owned by Mr. Toney, who also owned the one in Mount Ephraim. This White Tower was renamed Roney's when he bought the building in 1981. |
| Cafe 130 (closed/gone?) Collingswood, NJ |
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| In 2003, the Cafe 130, another former White Tower, looked like it had been boarded up for quite awhile. In 2005, it was hit by a tanker truck and appears unsalvageable. It seems to have been repainted and reopened sometime between the two photos. [photo at right thanks Gary Flint] |
| WT's (former White Tower) [gone] Pittsburgh, PA |
former White Tower Boston, MA |
former White Tower Richmond, VA |
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There were about ten White Towers in Pittsburgh at one time but only one remains now (as a video store). This location became Theo's in 1999 and was renamed again in 2002 as WT's. It was built in 1936 and was the only former White Tower still serving food. The building was demolished in 2006. For more, see this website.
This former Boston White Tower in Chinatown is now a jewelry store with the somehow-preserved shape and lights of the original occupant. This former Richmond White Tower has been converted into a Subway. |
| White Tower [for sale] Toledo, OH |
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| This Toledo White Tower was built in 1929 as a White Spot. White Tower bought the building in 1932 and added the porcelain enamel panels in 1935. The building has been vacant since 2004 but it still has the green stools and what looks like the original counter. It's now up for sale for $1 plus moving costs. If it doesn't find a buyer, it will be demolished. For more, see this website. I believe these are early photos of the same building: 1 and 2. |
| former White Tower Baltimore, MD |
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This former White Tower was once located in Baltimore and saved/restored by the City Life Museum which used to occupy this building (the Fava Building). The building is now home to Gardel's, an Argentinian restaurant and dance club. The White Tower building here is a partial façade and counter. It was nearly impossible for me to photo due to the structure's cramped position next to a window and poor lighting. |
| Tamy's Diner Dearborn, MI |
Campau Tower Hamtramck, MI |
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In 1928, White Tower went to industrial Detroit and built over 30 locations that year. These buildings were often tiny and crammed in tight spaces.
The Dearborn White Tower has been known as Tamy's Diner since at least the early 1970s but it is still very much intact. For more, see this website. Campau Tower was originally a White Tower. It has been renamed after the street on which it is located. For more, see this website. |
| former White Tower Detroit, MI |
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| This former Detroit White Tower is vacant and appears to have been damaged in a fire. |
| former White Tower Chicago, IL |
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| The former Chicago White Tower was built in 1930. The building was recently occupied by the Blue Thistle Flower Market but is now used as office space. |
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More White Towers:
Milwaukee, WI [gone?] Racine, WI I'd love to hear about (and see photos) of any other old White Tower buildings. |
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