Wisconsin-based Culver’s will open its first Northeast Florida restaurant, serving ButterBurgers, frozen custard and cheese curds, this summer in Middleburg, and three more sites are in due diligence.

Jacksonville-based Murphy Land and Retail Services Inc. represents Culver’s in its area site search, said President Clint Murphy.

He said Monday the three additional locations of interest are at southwest Collins Road and Interstate 295 in Southwest Jacksonville; and two in St. Johns County along U.S. 1 in St. Augustine and at I-95 and County Road 210.

He said he also was working on more sites in St. Johns County and one in Yulee.

Murphy said his company is the preferred area broker for Culver’s Franchising System LLC and the corporate real estate department.

Culver’s generally seeks 1.2-acre sites for 4,400-square-foot free-standing restaurants, he said. The developers prefer to own the sites rather than ground-lease them.

Murphy envisions 12 to 15 Culver’s in three years in the Jacksonville area.

The Middleburg Culver's is on 1.2 acres at 1767 Blanding Blvd.

“Culver’s is coming to Jacksonville in a big way,” Murphy said.

The Middleburg restaurant’s grand opening is slated for July 15, said franchise owner Don Lichte.

Lichte, his wife, Lori, and their daughter, Sophie, are developing the Middleburg location. He said Friday he will hire about 70 full- and part-time employees.

The almost 4,600-square-foot location is on 1.2 acres at 1767 Blanding Blvd.

Lichte said previously the Middleburg restaurant will seat about 105 inside and about 30 on the patio. Hours will be 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Their goal is to open three restaurants in five years.

Culver’s works with multiple franchisees to develop within areas. Murphy said at least five Culver’s franchise operators are coming to serve an area from St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach to Tallahassee.

Founded in 1984, Culver’s now counts at least 695 restaurants in 24 states, including 63 open or soon to open in Florida.

“Culver’s has a loyal following,” Murphy said.

In December, Readers Digest reported that a Restaurant Business survey found America’s favorite burger chain is Culver’s.

Culver’s score of 56.7 percent topped the In-N-Out chain’s 56.3 percent. Culver’s had higher marks for ambiance/appearance, food/beverage and takeout/convenience.

The Culver’s menu includes the burgers – named for their butter-toasted buns – along with chicken, beef pot roast, cod and pork tenderloin sandwiches; salads; dinners that include cod, shrimp, pot roast and chopped steak; kids’ meals; sides that include Wisconsin cheese curds; and made-daily custards, shakes, malts, sundaes and cones.

At Culver’s, customers order at the counter and are given a number. The food is delivered to the table. It’s the same with the drive-thru – the customer orders at the speaker, pulls up to pay and is given a number, moving up until the cooked-to-order food is prepared and delivered to the car.

Culver’s says it takes at least $350,000 to qualify for ownership of a franchise, with additional assets needed if the owner wants to own the real estate, building and equipment.

Paul Pitas, director of public relations and communications for Culver Franchising System LLC, said there is a potential franchisee for the Collins Road site, but “it is still too early in the process and there is no timeline for construction.”

The city calculated a mobility fee of $16,244 for that location to mitigate the traffic impact.

Culver’s is based in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, near Madison.



