Culver's
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican regional fast-casual restaurant chain known for ButterBurgers, Wisconsin cheese curds, and frozen custard.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Culver's is an American regional fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in ButterBurgers, frozen custard, cheese curds, chicken, fish, sandwiches, soups, salads, and other prepared foods. The business was founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin, where George and Ruth Culver, their son Craig, and Craig's wife Lea opened the first restaurant on July 18, 1984. The original name, Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers, placed its two defining products at the center of the concept. The Culver family had substantial restaurant experience before launching the chain. George and Ruth operated an A&W restaurant beginning in 1961 and later acquired The Farm Kitchen, a resort-oriented restaurant at Devil's Lake. Craig Culver also worked at McDonald's after college. These experiences influenced the company's emphasis on operational consistency, hospitality, and a menu that combined fast-food convenience with freshly prepared items and frozen custard desserts. Culver's first franchising attempt in 1988 used a loose licensing arrangement and did not succeed. The family subsequently developed more formal franchise standards, investment expectations, and operating procedures. A second franchised restaurant in Baraboo, Wisconsin, performed strongly, helping establish the model for later growth. By 1993, the chain had 14 restaurants in southern Wisconsin. It then entered Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa in the mid-1990s, followed by Texas in 1998 and additional markets across the Mountain West, South, and other parts of the United States. The company has generally pursued controlled, strategic expansion rather than rapid national saturation. Its restaurants have historically been concentrated in the Midwest, although the footprint has extended to states including Colorado, Wyoming, Kentucky, Arizona, Utah, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas, and others. In April 2025, the chain was described as having 1,000 restaurants in 26 states. In February 2026, Culver's announced plans to enter Virginia, beginning with the Richmond area. Culver's remains privately held. Roark Capital Group acquired a minority interest in October 2017 while the Culver family retained majority ownership. Leadership has included founder-family executive Craig Culver, who served as chief executive from the company's launch until 2015, followed by Phil Keiser, Joe Koss, Enrique 'Rick' Silva, and Julie Fussner. Fussner became chief executive in 2025 and was the company's first female CEO. The brand's positioning combines Midwestern hospitality, family-oriented dining, franchisee involvement, and a menu built around recognizable regional specialties. Its ButterBurgers use a buttered, toasted bun rather than butter being incorporated into the beef patty, while frozen custard is sold in dishes and cones and used in concrete mixers, malts, and shakes. Community sponsorships, school and sports partnerships, charitable activities, and the Scoopie custard-cone mascot reinforce the chain's local-market identity. Culver's celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2024, when Wisconsin recognized July 18 as Culvers Day.
History
Culver's developed from the restaurant experience of George and Ruth Culver and their son Craig. George and Ruth began operating an A&W restaurant in 1961. In 1968, they purchased The Farm Kitchen, a resort-style restaurant at Devil's Lake, while Craig later gained experience working at McDonald's after college. On July 18, 1984, George, Ruth, Craig, and Craig's wife Lea opened the first Culver's in Sauk City, Wisconsin. The restaurant originally traded as Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers, establishing the combination that would define the brand. The first franchising effort, begun in 1988, used a relatively loose licensing structure and failed after the franchisee left the restaurant business. The Culver family responded by creating more formal standards for franchise selection, investment, training, and restaurant operation. A later location in Baraboo succeeded and helped demonstrate that the concept could be replicated beyond the original family operation. Expansion then reached Middleton, Madison, and Milwaukee. By 1993, Culver's remained a small Wisconsin chain with 14 restaurants. The company began moving beyond Wisconsin in the mid-1990s. Its first restaurants outside the state opened in Buffalo, Minnesota, and Roscoe, Illinois, in 1995, followed by Dubuque, Iowa, in 1997. Culver's entered Texas in 1998 and subsequently pursued carefully selected markets outside the traditional Midwest. It opened in Colorado and Wyoming in 2005, Kentucky in 2006, Arizona in 2008, and Utah in 2011. South Carolina followed in 2012, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee in 2014, North Carolina in 2015, and Arkansas in 2022. The chain continued to describe its growth as strategic, relying heavily on franchisees and local operators. Restaurant design evolved during the expansion period. The traditional format generally provided approximately 120 seats. In 2006, Culver's introduced the Metro-98 prototype, first built in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The format reduced seating but also lowered the land requirement by roughly one-fifth, making it more adaptable to certain sites. Culver's also experimented with a separate concept. In 2000, it opened Blue Spoon Creamery Cafe in Prairie du Sac, a soup, sandwich, and salad restaurant whose name referred to the blue spoons associated with Culver's restaurants. A second location operated in Middleton for approximately two years and closed in 2010. The Prairie du Sac restaurant closed in May 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdown period. Craig Culver served as CEO from the company's founding until mid-2015. Phil Keiser succeeded him but died in 2016. Joe Koss became CEO in 2017 and retired at the end of 2020. Enrique 'Rick' Silva took over in 2021 and retired in 2025, when former chief marketing officer Julie Fussner became CEO. In 2017, Roark Capital Group purchased a minority interest, but the Culver family kept majority ownership. Menu development has remained centered on ButterBurgers and frozen custard while expanding to chicken, fish, salads, soups, sides, and other fast-casual items. In 2021, a joke social-media concept for a burger topped with a fried cheese curd led to a consumer petition and then to a limited national product launch called the CurderBurger. The item was released for National Cheese Curd Day and sold out quickly in some Wisconsin markets. Culver's has cultivated a community-oriented identity through sports sponsorships, local fundraising, youth activities, and its Scoopie mascot. The company marked its fortieth anniversary in 2024, and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers designated July 18 as Culvers Day in Wisconsin. By April 2025, the chain was reported to operate 1,000 restaurants in 26 states. A planned 2026 entry into Virginia, beginning in the Richmond area, represents another step in its expansion beyond its Wisconsin and broader Midwestern base.
- 2025
The chain reaches 1,000 restaurants
[1]Culver's is reported to have 1,000 restaurants across 26 states by April.
- 2024
Fortieth anniversary
[1]Culver's celebrates forty years, and July 18 is recognized as Culvers Day in Wisconsin.
- 2021
CurderBurger launches
[1]Culver's turns a popular joke concept into a limited-time burger topped with a fried cheese curd.
- 2017
Roark Capital takes a minority stake
[1]Roark Capital Group acquires a minority interest while the Culver family retains majority ownership.
- 2006
Metro-98 restaurant prototype introduced
[1]The smaller-footprint format is first built in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
- 2000
Blue Spoon Creamery Cafe launches
[1]Culver's opens a soup, sandwich, and salad spinoff in Prairie du Sac.
- 1995
Expansion beyond Wisconsin
[1]The first restaurants outside Wisconsin open in Minnesota and Illinois.
- 1988
Franchising begins
[1]Culver's starts franchising and later formalizes its franchise systems after an unsuccessful initial arrangement.
- 1984
First Culver's opens in Sauk City
[1]The Culver family opens the first Culver's Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers restaurant on July 18.
- 1968
The family acquires The Farm Kitchen
[1]George and Ruth purchase a resort-style restaurant at Devil's Lake.
Products and positioning
Mid-market, family-friendly fast-casual dining with a Midwestern hospitality orientation, freshly prepared savory food, regional Wisconsin specialties, and premium frozen custard desserts.
Burgers · 1984
ButterBurgers
Culver's signature hamburgers are served on lightly buttered, toasted buns. The line forms the core of the brand's savory menu and is commonly paired with fries, Wisconsin cheese curds, or frozen custard.
Desserts · 1984
Frozen custard
Frozen custard is Culver's other foundational product. It is served in dishes and cones and is blended into concrete mixers, as well as used in shakes and malts. Flavor availability varies by location and daily offering.
Limited-time burger · 2021
CurderBurger
The CurderBurger consists of a ButterBurger-style sandwich topped with a large fried cheese curd. It originated as an April Fools' concept in 2021 and became a real limited-time offering after strong customer interest.
Entrees
Chicken, fish, and garden menu
Beyond burgers, Culver's offers chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, fish items, salads, soups, and corn dogs, giving the chain a broader fast-casual menu suited to family groups and varied preferences.
Sides and drinks
Sides and beverages
Common sides include French fries, onion rings, and Wisconsin cheese curds. The dessert and beverage program also includes shakes, malts, and concrete mixers made with frozen custard.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021CurderBurger social campaign
United States
An April Fools' post depicting a fried cheese curd in a burger bun generated substantial customer interest. A subsequent online petition helped prompt Culver's to release the item for National Cheese Curd Day.
Outcome. The limited-time product launched in October 2021 and sold out before noon at participating Madison, Wisconsin restaurants.
- Sports and community sponsorship program
United States · Wisconsin · Midwestern states
Culver's sponsors and supports athletic, youth, and community events, including Wisconsin collegiate athletics, professional teams, golf and hockey events, and local fundraising activities.
Outcome. The program supports the brand's local-market and family-oriented positioning.
Brand decisions
2021
Convert the CurderBurger joke into a menu itemProduct launchBackground
A social-media joke and subsequent customer petition created demand for a burger topped with a fried cheese curd.
Action taken
Culver's launched the CurderBurger as a limited-time item for National Cheese Curd Day.
Aftermath
The product attracted strong demand and sold out quickly in some Wisconsin locations.
2017
Sell a minority ownership interestM&ABackground
Culver's remained a privately held, family-controlled chain while pursuing continued expansion.
Action taken
The company sold a minority share to Roark Capital Group and retained majority family ownership.
Aftermath
Culver's continued its franchise-led expansion while remaining privately held.
2006
Adopt the Metro-98 restaurant prototypeStrategyBackground
The traditional restaurant format required a relatively large site and provided around 120 seats.
Action taken
Culver's introduced a smaller-footprint design with reduced seating requirements.
Aftermath
The prototype reduced the land needed for construction by approximately 20 percent and supported development in different site formats.
1988
Formalize the franchise modelStrategyBackground
Culver's initial loose licensing arrangement did not provide sufficient commitment from the franchisee.
Action taken
The Culver family established more structured franchise procedures and operating standards.
Aftermath
A later Baraboo franchise succeeded and became a basis for broader expansion.
Recent events
Reported
Culver’s announces limited-time CurderBurger availability[3]
Culver’s announced that its CurderBurger would be available at its restaurants nationwide on October 15, 2021, while supplies lasted.
Reported
Local Culver’s restaurants arrange meals for area healthcare facilities[4]
Local owners of the Duluth, Two Harbors, and Ashland Culver’s restaurants arranged complimentary combo basket meals for healthcare facility workers, with deliveries scheduled for May 12 and May 15.
Sources4 sources
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