Sonny's Hamburgers
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Mike Engle
The glass front, white enamel exterior and neon pole sign at Sonny’s Hamburgers recall Detroit’s classic slider stands.
Opened in 1957, Sonny’s retains an open grill and vintage swivel stools. Owner Mike Williams began working here at fourteen before eventually taking over. Quite a climb from an after-school job.
UPDATE: Sonny’s remains open, with its historic building and vintage neon still welcoming customers. 06-26
Lakes Hamburgers (Demolished)
Novi, MI Photo courtesy Mike Engle
Lakes Hamburgers brought white-tiled burger-stand styling to Novi. Inside, a small counter and swivel stools faced a grill turning out Detroit-style sliders over onions.
It wasn’t fancy, but a quick burger and a familiar seat were enough to keep neighborhood customers returning.
UPDATE: The stand has been demolished, with nothing remaining of the original building. 06-26
The Giant Hamburgers (Closed)
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Mike Engle
White porcelain panels and red lettering made The Giant Hamburgers easy to spot. Part of Les Sampson’s Giant Hamburger System, it shared family ties with Telway, founded by his brother Lex.
Onion-cooked sliders and steamed buns came from a tiny counter-and-stool setting. The compact building supplied as much roadside character as the sign above it.
UPDATE: The restaurant closed around 2015–2016. The building survives, but its original lettering has been removed or covered. 06-26
White Tower (Closed)
E. 5th Street, Dayton OH Photo courtesy Steve Felder
White Tower is one of those classic hamburger chains that's become increasingly difficult to find. At one time, these little white buildings could be spotted throughout much of the Midwest and East Coast, but today only a handful remain.
This Dayton location is one of just two surviving White Towers in the city, making it a real roadside survivor. Like its better-known competitor White Castle, White Tower became famous for its small hamburgers served from compact, eye-catching buildings designed to attract passing motorists. While the chain has largely faded away, this location continues serving customers decades after most of its sister restaurants disappeared.
White Tower, 5th St.
Dayton, OH Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
White Tower on East 5th Street is one of the last reminders of a chain that was once a familiar sight across much of the Midwest and East Coast. While most White Tower restaurants disappeared decades ago, this classic porcelain-clad building still survives in downtown Dayton.
Built in the chain's signature Art Deco style, the compact restaurant featured gleaming white porcelain enamel panels that projected a clean, modern image to passing motorists. After White Tower left Dayton, the building found a second life as Smokin' Bar-B-Que, proving that these little roadside burger stands could adapt to changing times while still retaining their unique character.
UPDATE: The former White Tower building still stands, but the longtime Smokin' Bar-B-Que restaurant has closed, leaving the historic building vacant. 06-26
White Tower (Closed)
E. 3rd Street, Dayton OH Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
White Tower on East 3rd Street is another rare survivor from a once-popular hamburger chain. Although the White Tower name disappeared from this location decades ago, the little porcelain-clad building has continued serving food under different owners ever since.
The restaurant opened in 1948 as a White Tower and later became Yummy Burger before finding new life in 2006 as White Lotus Restaurant. It's quite a change from burgers to Thai food, but that's part of what makes this place so interesting. The compact building, large front windows, and classic white porcelain exterior remain, preserving much of its mid-century character despite the different menu inside.
UPDATE: The White Tower on 3rd Street is now closed. Signs
on the window direct hungry patrons to the 5th St. address. Some may just
make the trek over to Wympees across the street. Many thanks to Paul Witek for update. 11-00
White Lotus
Dayton, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
UPDATE: The White Lotus is clearly the former White Tower on 3rd Street. The awnings say "yummy burger" but it was closed so I could not give it a try. This burger joint is located across the street from Wympee. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for update. 09-13
UPDATE: The former White Tower building remains standing and is currently home to White Lotus Restaurant, although the future of the business is uncertain following the owner's retirement announcement. 06-26
Sonny's Hamburgers
Lakes Hamburgers (Demolished)
The Giant Hamburgers (Closed)
White Tower (Closed)
White Tower, 5th St.
