Culver's brings ButterBurgers, curds and custard to DeLand. 10 things to know (2024)

C. A. BridgesUSA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

Culver's brings ButterBurgers, curds and custard to DeLand. 10 things to know (1)

Culver's brings ButterBurgers, curds and custard to DeLand. 10 things to know (2)

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If you're concerned that you just don't have enough butter in your burgers, join the crowds at DeLand's newest fast-food restaurant, Culver's. The new location near the corner of U.S. 17-92 and International Speedway Blvd. opened its doors last week and held its grand opening Monday.

The Wisconsin-basedchain — nationally known for its ButterBurgers, fresh frozen custardand cheese curds — is the Midwest's answer to other regional, cult-favorite chains such as New York's White Castle and Shake Shack, and California'sIn-N-Out Burger. But over the last few years,they've made Florida a priority. In April the company announced they planned to open at least 51 more locations in the U.S. by the end of 2024.

The new location at 10 Summit Oak Place, across from the Northgate Shopping Center, is the first in West Volusia and the fifth in the Volusia-Flagler area, with more restaurants in New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast, Port Orange and Daytona Beach. It's owned and operated by Steve and Christine Brick who, with business partners Luke and Christine Ryba, also have spots in Apopka, Casselberry, Oviedo and Sanford.

Culver's just celebrated 40 years in the business last month and boasts over 970 family-owned restaurants in 26 states. They've made a big push into Florida, where according to 24wallst.com the Sunshine State has around the same number (about 100) as the company's home state of Wisconsin.

Here's a few things you might not have known about the self-proclaimed "slowest fast-food restaurant in the world."

1. What is a Culver's ButterBurger, anyway?

Wisconsin, one of the leading states in dairy production, traditionally has two types of butter burgers:Butter burgers with generous pats of butter melting right on the beef patties, and butter burgers with a toasted butter bun. Co-founder Craig Culver went with the second one, inspired by his mother's homemade burgers.

The juicy burger is made with a double helping of Midwest-raised beef patties (made with a special blend of three cuts of fresh, never frozen, 100% Midwest beef)topped with options such as shreddedlettuce, mayo, tomatoes, red onions,pickles, and Wisconsin cheese, allsandwiched between lightly toasted, buttered buns. Use two hands. And a lot of napkins.

Culver's ButterBurger was named America's favorite fast-food burger in 2018, according to Restaurant Business.

2. How did Culver's get started?

Craig Culver wanted to start his own place and serve comfort food from his childhood. He knew butter burgers would be popular after seeing the response to them when his family operated a supper club. And he was inspired from another unlikely source: the Milwaukee drive-in that was the model for Arnold's, on the classic TV show "Happy Days."

After working as a manager at various fast food chains, in 1984 Culver and his family turned a former A&W root beer building in Sauk City, Wisconsin into the first Culver's.

It took three years to turn a profit.

“It was like throwing a party and nobody ever came,” Culver says of those early days.“Nobody knew who we were. Itwas slim pickings.”

Now, 40 years later, Culver's isone of the fastest-growing chains in the U.S. with $2.83 billion in sales in 2022, according to RestaurantBusinessOnline. This year, Fodors Travel named them the best fast food restaurant in the United States, calling them "most delicious fast food pit stop in America." USA TODAY's 10Best list of best chain burgers for 2024 included the ButterBurger Cheese.

3.What are Culver's cheese curds?

Think of stubby little mozzarella sticks but with fresh Wisconsin white or yellow cheddar from the same family dairy farm that has been partnered with the chain for nearly 23 years. They serve an average of 41 million orders of them a year.

Culver's started serving these addictive Midwest staples in 1997 and even created National Cheese Curd Day on Oct. 15 to honor them.

4. Why is Culver's slower than other fast-food restaurants?

Culver's was well ahead of the curve when it came to the "fast casual" trend. You order at the counter, take a number to your seat, and wait for your food to be delivered because nothing is cooked before you order it.

“We were a pioneer in that,” Culver told USA Today in 2018. “We wanted to make it to order.I like to call us the slowest fast-food restaurant in the world, andwe’re proud of it.”

5. What is Culver's frozen custard? Is it ice cream?

Sort of. It's thickerand creamier than ice cream because Culver's uses eggs, and they slow-churn small batches throughout the day to keep it fresh. And, of course, they use dairysourced from more than 100 family farms in Wisconsin.

They have several flavors and varieties available on the menu but fans keep an eye open for the "Flavor of the Day," a tradition that began with the very first restaurant. Midnight Toffee, Really Reese's, Chocolate Oreo Volcano, Cappuccino Cookie Crumble, Mint Explosion... Each location has its own different combination of custard and add-ins that changes each day.

Need to find out today's Flavor? You can sign up for a monthly calendar newsletter from your favorite location or use the Culver's app (iOS | Android).

6. Why are there so many Culver's in Florida?

For one thing, Craig Culver's parents were seasonal residents in Lee County.

“Mom and dad would be in Fort Myers Beach, and (wife) Lea and I would spend a few weeks down here,” Culver said.

Southwest Florida is filled with “cheeseheads,” hesaid, which is why the first Florida locations started there.“There are so many Midwesterners here that know our name.”

7. Does Culver's make its own root beer?

Oh, yes. If you dine in, Culvers offers a self-serve fountain with Pepsi products and fresh-brewed iced tea, but their signature drink is their root beer, a particular favorite ofCraig Culver. He created the recipeback in the day with locally sourced ingredients.

It's available as a fountain drink or as part of a float with fresh custard.

8. Does Culver's help employees with school?

Culver's offers scholarships through the non-profit Culver's Foundation. According to their website, they began with a single $500 scholarship to one stafferin 1993. Since then they have awarded $5 million in 3,000 employee scholarships.

9. What else does Culver's serve?

Not in a burger mood? The restaurant also sells chicken, sandwiches including pork tenderloin and beef pot roast, seafood, salads, soupand other comfort food favorites as well as multiple flavors of custard, floats, shakes and malts.

Culver's brings ButterBurgers, curds and custard to DeLand. 10 things to know (3)

Culver's brings ButterBurgers, curds and custard to DeLand. 10 things to know (4)

This Culver's wedding proposal is very Wisconsin

A man proposed to his partner in a Packers jersey in front of a Culver's sign. It made for a very Wisconsin wedding proposal and went viral.

Video courtesy of April Masterson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

10. Can Culver's get any more Midwestern?

Not from lack of trying. From loading the menu with Midwestern comfort food, to using Wisconsin cattle and dairies, to emphasizing polite and friendly service, Culver's hopes to bring the Midwest to everybody. Even Florida.

As Culver's CEOJoseph Kossputs it: "We've taken this Wisconsin hospitality and bring it to all the markets we come to."

"People find our food comforting and warm, and our hospitality the same way," said Garth Darton, who ownsthe new St. Augustine franchise with his wife Lisa.

When Craig Culver talks to employees at new franchises, he emphasizes the importance of building relationships, which in turn builds a loyal customer base.

"Where does hospitality come from?" Culver asked staff in Fort Myers. "It comes from the heart.

"It's much more than ButterBurgers and frozen custard. It's about people. The ButterBurger tastes much better when there is a smile behind it."

Where is the Culver's in DeLand?

The New DeLand location is at 10 Summit Oak Place, across from the Northgate Shopping Center and near Sonny's BBQ. It's open from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

Culver's brings ButterBurgers, curds and custard to DeLand. 10 things to know (2024)

FAQs

How would you describe Culver's Frozen Custard to a guest? ›

Rich, Creamy, Delicious

Think of Frozen Custard as the most premium dessert you've ever tasted. Luscious and creamy with farm fresh dairy, it contains less air so it's denser and richer than ordinary ice cream.

Why is Culver's called ButterBurger? ›

We call our ButterBurgers “ButterBurgers,” not because they've been cooked, marinated, dunked, fried or drizzled with butter but because we lightly butter the crown of the bun for an extra touch of goodness. (Where else would you expect such a delicious idea than from the dairy state?)

What is Culver's most famous for? ›

Culver's is a fast-food restaurant that started in Wisconsin and has since expanded to 26 states. The chain is known for its ButterBurgers, cheese curds, and frozen custard.

What makes Culver's different? ›

As Craig Culver always says, "We never compromise on quality." It's a promise that begins with sourcing the best ingredients and continues through to the way we prepare your meal: fresh, just for you. It's why we always use fresh, never frozen beef and whole, white meat chicken from America's family farms.

What makes Culver's custard so good? ›

Make It Fresh, Multiple Times a Day

You can taste the difference … really! Our frozen custard is special because it's made fresh: slow-churned, right in the restaurant, in small batches.

What is Culvers custard made of? ›

Vanilla Frozen Custard [Milk, Cream, Skim Milk, Sugar, Corn Syrup, Egg Yolk, Guar Gum, Mono & Diglycerides, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Natural and Artificial Vanilla Flavor], Pecan Pieces [Vegetable Oil (Peanut, Cottonseed, Soybean and/or Sunflower Seed), Sea Salt], Salted Caramel [Corn Syrup, Sweetened Condensed ...

Why does Culver's call their ice cream custard? ›

Culver's offers custard, which means it's 1.4 percent egg

As it turns out, it's all in the egg. Culver's website makes sure customers are aware their custard always contains at least 1.4 percent egg. If it contained any less egg, it would just be considered ice cream.

What are Culvers workers called? ›

Crew Member - Front of House

Whether it's greeting guests at the door, taking orders behind the counter or delivering outstanding service throughout our restaurants, these are the people who bring our hometown hospitality to life each and every day.

Is Culvers only in Florida? ›

Did you know Culver's® is located in over 26 states?

What is the Culver's scandal? ›

Waukesha County prosecutors have charged two Muskego Culver's employees with extortion after they allegedly threatened to expose a co-worker's affair unless he paid them thousands of dollars. Cameron Rueda, 29, of Waukesha is charged with extorting $1,100 from the victim inside the restaurant in late 2022.

Who owns Culvers? ›

Culver's
Culver's in Onalaska, Wisconsin, featuring the traditional blue metal roof
Revenue$3.2 billion
OwnerCulver family
Number of employees25,000
Websitewww.culvers.com
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What is the slogan for Culvers? ›

Culver's motto is, “Welcome to Delicious,” and our experience was that it is. The franchise founded in Wisconsin, features ButterBurgers and frozen custard treats as its signature dishes.

Who is Culvers rival? ›

Culver's main competitors are Chipotle Mexican Grill, Papa Murphy's, and Darden Restaurants. Competitor Summary. See how Culver's compares to its main competitors: McDonald's has the most employees (210,000).

Why do Culvers burgers taste so good? ›

Culver's uses fresh, never frozen beef, and the pressing and searing technique locks in the juices and therefore the flavor. Pressing the beef also ensures it is the right thickness to cook evenly on the grill. "That's where that great steak flavor comes from." The beef is seasoned with a salt and pepper mixture.

Does Culver's use real beef? ›

Our ButterBurgers® are made with our special blend of three cuts of beef: sirloin, chuck and plate.

How would you describe frozen custard? ›

What is a Frozen Custard? Frozen custard is a frozen dessert that contains milk, cream, sugar, flavorings, and egg yolk. Like the U.S. regulation for ice cream, frozen custard is also required to have at least 10 percent milk fat, but also 1.4 percent egg yolks by weight.

How is Culver's custard different from ice cream? ›

Culver's custard is served warmer than ice cream

It also contains less air than ice cream, which makes it both denser and richer than the rival dessert. According to Culver's website, their custard is served at anywhere between 18 and 21 degrees Fahrenheit.

Is frozen custard just soft serve? ›

Churning Process

The air is what gives ice cream a light and soft texture, almost foamy. Frozen custard has a different churning process. A professional custard machine is created to add as little air as possible into the custard mixture. Without the extra air, custard is more dense, rich and thick.

How does frozen custard compared to ice cream? ›

The main difference between frozen custard and ice cream is that frozen custard is made with egg yolks and ice cream is not, giving the former a richer flavor and mouthfeel. Some ice creams are made with egg yolks, however, which would technically make them custards based on the USDA guidelines.

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