ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Construction can now start on the first White Castle in Northeast Florida after St. Johns County issued a building permit on Wednesday, Oct. 28, for a restaurant planned along International Golf Parkway inside the World Commerce Center development.
The permit puts the cost of the job at $1.95 million. Plans call for a slider restaurant with a dual drive-thru and a 270-square-foot patio for outdoor seating, built on an outparcel next to a Walmart Supercenter that is still going up on the site.
The restaurant will sit at 3351 International Golf Parkway. The Walmart store, at 3405 International Golf Parkway, is near the interchange with State Road 16 and a short distance south of Tocoi Creek High School. Bass Pro Shops, Buc-ee’s and Costco, the big draws that already anchor World Commerce Center, sit about 2 miles to the east.
Word of the chain’s plans for the area first came out about six months ago, and the permit is the step that clears the way for crews to break ground. No opening date has been announced.
Gatlin Development Co. owns the property through IGP WCC Project LLC, according to county property records, and Steinemann & Co. is developing the project. The restaurant will be part of the retail cluster growing around the Walmart, which is the newest anchor in that section of the development.
For now, Floridians who want the chain’s square burgers have to drive to Orlando, Kissimmee, Clermont or Daytona Beach. White Castle got its start in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921, and today runs about 400 restaurants along with a grocery line of frozen sliders.
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