White Castle plans to serve alcohol in Short North store

Booze and sliders — it’s a match made on many a late night.

Soon, in the Short North, the two could be joined under one roof. White Castle has applied for liquor licenses for the soon-to-be rebuilt location on North High Street.

The new store will be the centerpiece of large redevelopment project and will serve as White Castle’s flagship restaurant. It is a one-off concept for the Columbusbased burger chain, and the company wants to have fun with the new store.

“(In a traditional White Castle), a mixed drink might have been cherry Coke with Sprite,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president of White Castle. “We are exploring all of our options. We want the Castle there to be a tribute to our 50 years in that neighborhood.”

White Castle first opened a store in the Short North in 1968. The new store will open late this year or early next year. White Castle is transforming the site of the former single-story restaurant and parking lot into a mixed-use development rising eight stories with an attached parking garage.

The liquor licenses that White Castle is seeking cover beer, mixed drinks, spirits, wine and Sunday sales. Plans for the new White Castle still include a drive-through and a classic menu of sliders, breakfast items and other fare, but there will be twists as well.

“The heart and soul of who we are is the slider, but there will be some fun and unexpected menu choices, too,” Richardson said, without being specific. “We really want to make it a distinctive and one-of-a-kind destination.”