Slider loyalists in Northeast Florida are finally getting their moment. White Castle is lining up its first local restaurant at St. Augustine's World Commerce Center, with plans filed for a 2,764-square-foot building, a 270-square-foot outdoor patio and dual drive-thru lanes. The proposed spot would sit on an outparcel by the Walmart Supercenter now rising along International Golf Parkway, putting drive-thru access within a quick turn for nearby neighborhoods. County records show the Development Review Committee is slated to take its first look at the project on May 6.
Plans and footprint
The proposed 2,764-square-foot restaurant would feature a 270-square-foot outdoor seating area and two drive-thru lanes on an outparcel at the Walmart Supercenter at 3405 International Golf Parkway, according to Jax Daily Record. County permit notes indicate the Walmart project received its building permit on Jan. 23, 2026, and that White Castle's project cost will be recorded once its own building permit is issued. The county's Development Review Committee is scheduled to discuss the restaurant proposal at its May 6 meeting.
Who is behind the site
Property records identify Gatlin Development Co., through IGP WCC Project LLC, as the parcel owner, with Steinemann & Co. listed as the developer, per the Jacksonville Business Journal. Design work is credited to Columbus-based Archall Architects, which includes White Castle's headquarters and other restaurant projects in its portfolio and is named on the St. Augustine filing, according to Archall Architects. Those filings link the proposed restaurant to the broader World Commerce Center master plan and the layout of the Walmart outparcel.
Part of a bigger Florida push
The St. Augustine proposal fits into a broader Florida strategy for White Castle, which already operates locations in Orlando, Clermont and Kissimmee. The company also recently announced a fourth freestanding Florida restaurant for Daytona Beach with a projected late-summer 2026 opening window. Coverage of the Daytona deal and the company statement notes that the new Florida Castles are using a modern "neighborhood" design that features indoor and outdoor seating paired with two drive-thru lanes. FOX 35 Orlando reported on the Daytona announcement and related company details.
What is next for neighbors and shoppers
The May 6 DRC session will serve as the first public review of the St. Augustine plans, with any conditions related to traffic, site layout or neighborhood impact expected to surface there. A formal project cost for the White Castle will be set once the county issues the building permit. World Commerce Center already hosts a roster of national brands, including Chase Bank, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Panda Express and Wells Fargo, and Walmart has a fueling station in the works at the development. The construction schedule and opening timeline for the White Castle outparcel will depend on the outcome of the DRC review and follow-up permitting steps, according to Jax Daily Record.
.jpg){kind=link}