Culvers Stories: How a Former A&W in Wisconsin Became a Fan Favorite
The first Culvers Stories wasn’t built from scratch. It was a former A&W in a small Wisconsin village, and by the founder’s own account, it almost didn’t survive its first year.
That’s the part most people miss. Today Culver’s has nearly 1,000 restaurants across 26 states and a Flavor of the Day that fans check before they drive over. But it started with two generations of one family, a building they already owned, and one simple idea: make every meal fresh and make every guest feel welcome.
Here’s the short version. Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents, George and Ruth, opened the first Culver’s in Sauk City, Wisconsin, on July 18, 1984. Below is the full story: who the founders were, what they served, how the business grew, and how the company celebrates its anniversary.
In this article
- Culver’s History at a Glance
- When and Where Was Culver’s Founded?
- Who Founded Culver’s? Meet the Culver Family
- The Story Behind the Culver’s ButterBurger
- Culver’s Fresh Frozen Custard: A Wisconsin Tradition
- Wisconsin Food Traditions on the Menu
- From One Restaurant to Nearly 1,000
- Culver’s Timeline
- Culver’s Anniversary
- Culver’s Values and Giving Back
- What Makes Culver’s Unique?
- Culver’s History FAQs
- Conclusion
Culvers Stories at a Glance
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 18, 1984 |
| Location | Sauk City, Wisconsin |
| Founders | Craig and Lea Culver, with George and Ruth Culver |
| Original name | Culver’s Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers |
| Signature foods | ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard |
| First franchise | Baraboo, Wisconsin, 1990 |
| Cheese curds added | 1997 |
| Size in 2024 | Nearly 1,000 restaurants in 26 states |
| Headquarters | Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin |
When and Where Was Culver’s Founded?
Culver’s was founded on July 18, 1984, in Sauk City, Wisconsin, a small village on the Wisconsin River. It was the Culver family’s hometown, and that matters. The whole brand still leans on the idea of a neighborhood restaurant.
The First Culver’s on Phillips Boulevard
The first restaurant was a former A&W on Phillips Boulevard. George and Ruth Culver had bought that A&W back in 1961, so when Craig wanted to start his own place, the building was already in the family. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, they painted it blue and white, added some landscaping, and opened for business that July.
It was not an overnight hit. Craig told Wisconsin Public Radio in 2021 that the business came close to failing in year one. The first profit arrived in the third year. What kept the doors open was word of mouth, and eventually people were driving in from across Wisconsin to try it.
What Was on the Original Menu?
The focus was right there in the first name: ButterBurgers and Frozen Custard. The company’s own Our Story page says those two items are what the family began serving in 1984.
A full, item-by-item menu from that first summer isn’t well documented, and you’ll find conflicting lists online. What is clear is that the core pairing never changed. Cheese curds joined the lineup in 1997, and the hand-battered fish fry became another signature. If you want to see how today’s lineup compares, our Culver’s menu guide breaks it down.
Who Founded Culver’s? Meet the Culver Family
Culver’s was a family project from day one, and each family member left a mark on how the company works today.
Craig Culver
The face of the brand
Craig is the best-known face of the brand. He paired his signature ButterBurger with Fresh Frozen Custard, a Wisconsin treat he fell in love with in college. He also carried forward the Midwestern supper club fish fry tradition he grew up around. The company says Craig founded Culver’s believing that people simply want to be treated nicely.
Lea Culver
Looking after each other
Lea’s philosophy is that people are better off when they look after each other: team members, guests, and the wider community. The company credits her with the idea that each restaurant is a chance to serve others.
George Culver
The family entrepreneur
George was the entrepreneur of the family and the one who bought the Sauk City A&W in 1961. His commitment to doing things right is credited as the foundation for the handcrafted way Culver’s makes its food.
Ruth Culver
The Queen of Hospitality
Friends and family called Ruth the Queen of Hospitality. She believed in taking care of every guest, every time, and that attitude is still held up internally as the standard.
Who Owns Culver’s Today?
Culver’s runs as a franchise system. The company name on its website is Culver Franchising System, LLC, and its headquarters are in Prairie du Sac, less than three miles from the first restaurant. Each restaurant is independently owned and operated by a franchisee who works in the restaurant. According to Wikipedia, Julie Fussner became CEO in April 2025, the first woman to hold the role. Craig and Lea Culver have remained publicly involved, including at the 40th anniversary celebrations in 2024.
The Story Behind the Culver’s ButterBurger
How the ButterBurger Started
Here’s a detail most guests don’t know. The first ButterBurgers were portioned with an ice cream scoop. Fresh beef was scooped into balls, then pressed onto the grill to get the sear the burger is known for. The company still points to fresh beef and cooking to order as the heart of the product.
Why Is It Called a ButterBurger?
The official story page doesn’t explain where the name comes from. The most common explanation online is the buttered, toasted bun, but treat that as a popular explanation rather than a confirmed company statement. If you’re writing or citing this, check Culver’s directly.
Culver’s Fresh Frozen Custard: A Wisconsin Tradition
Frozen custard is richer than regular ice cream and has deep roots in Wisconsin. Craig knew it was the right partner for his burger, and the pairing became the company’s calling card.
Custard is also behind one of the brand’s best-loved habits: the Flavor of the Day. Each restaurant features a rotating flavor, and fans check the Flavor of the Day page before they go. If you want to rank your own favorites, see our guide to the best Culver’s custard flavors.
Wisconsin Food Traditions on the Menu
Cheese Curds (1997)
Culver’s started serving Wisconsin cheese curds in 1997. The love for them was big enough that the company created National Cheese Curd Day, celebrated every year on October 15.
The Fish Fry
The Culver family has roots in Midwestern supper clubs, where a fish fry brought friends and neighbors together. Culver’s says it still batters each fillet by hand and cooks it only after you order.
The Origin of the Table Tent
Because every meal was made fresh, the family needed a way to know who ordered what. Their early solution was upside-down foam cups with handwritten numbers, which turned into the table tents you see today.
From One Restaurant to Nearly 1,000: Franchising and Growth
The First Franchise
The company says its first successful franchise opened in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in 1990. From the start, the owner-operator was expected to work in the restaurant, and that rule still applies.
One note for accuracy: Wikipedia says the family began franchising in 1988, while the company’s own page highlights 1990 as the first successful franchise. The difference is likely between starting to offer franchises and opening the first one that worked.
Growing Beyond the Midwest
According to Wikipedia, the first franchise outside the Midwest opened in Texas in February 1998. By June 2009, the company opened its 400th restaurant, according to QSR Magazine’s coverage of the 25th anniversary. By 2024, Culver’s had grown to nearly 1,000 restaurants in 26 states, according to Governor Tony Evers’ office.
Culver’s Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1961 | George and Ruth Culver buy the Sauk City A&W |
| 1984 | First Culver’s opens on July 18 |
| 1990 | First successful franchise opens in Baraboo |
| 1997 | Wisconsin cheese curds join the menu |
| 1998 | First franchise outside the Midwest opens in Texas |
| 2009 | 25th anniversary; 400th restaurant opens |
| 2013 | Thank You Farmers Project begins |
| 2024 | 40th anniversary; nearly 1,000 restaurants in 26 states |
| 2025 | Julie Fussner becomes CEO |
Culver’s Anniversary: How the Company Celebrates
When Is Culver’s Anniversary?
Culver’s anniversary is July 18, the day the first restaurant opened in 1984.
The 25th Anniversary (2009)
For its 25th year, participating restaurants ran a week-long promotion, and the original Sauk City location held special events with daily prize drawings and $1 specials. The restaurant donated 10 percent of its July 15 sales to the local Good Neighbor Clinic.
The 40th Anniversary and Culver’s Day (2024)
In 2024, Governor Tony Evers proclaimed July 18 as Culver’s Day across Wisconsin. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, the company said a portion of that day’s sales would go to a local organization chosen by each restaurant. It was a fitting way to mark four decades for a brand built on community.
How Old Is Culver’s?
As of July 18, 2026, Culver’s is 42 years old.
Culver’s Values and Giving Back
The company describes its values in three ideas.
- Putting people first: hire good people and treat them like family.
- Celebrating guests: make every guest feel welcome, like a guest in your home.
- Leading by example: owner-operators work inside their restaurants.
Giving back is built into the model. Franchisees run Give Local fundraisers and sponsorships in their own towns. The Culver’s Foundation supports basic needs and youth development, and the Thank You Farmers Project, started in 2013, backs agricultural education. In the Culver family’s home area, the public libraries in Sauk City and Prairie du Sac are named for George and Ruth Culver.
What Makes Culver’s Unique?
Plenty of chains sell burgers and ice cream. What sets Culver’s apart is how closely the company has stuck to its starting point. Food is cooked to order, owners work in their restaurants, and the brand talks about hospitality as seriously as it talks about the menu.
That consistency is a big part of how a single Wisconsin restaurant became a national name. If you’re curious how that compares with other chains, our fast food brand history series covers more.
Culver’s History FAQs
Who founded Culver’s?
Craig and Lea Culver founded Culver’s with Craig’s parents, George and Ruth Culver.
When was Culver’s founded?
Culver’s was founded on July 18, 1984.
Where was the first Culver’s restaurant?
The first Culver’s opened in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in a former A&W building on Phillips Boulevard.
When did Culver’s start franchising?
The company says its first successful franchise opened in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in 1990. Some sources date the start of franchising to 1988.
When did Culver’s add cheese curds?
Culver’s began serving cheese curds in 1997.
What was on the original Culver’s menu?
The core items were ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard. A complete item list from 1984 isn’t publicly documented.
How old is Culver’s?
As of July 2026, Culver’s is 42 years old.
Conclusion
Culver’s started with a family, a former A&W, and a promise to treat guests well. It nearly didn’t make it through the first year, turned a profit in the third, and grew into a nearly 1,000-restaurant brand without changing the basic idea.
If this story was useful, share it with a fellow Culver’s fan, and tell us in the comments what your go-to order is. And if you’re near a restaurant, check the Flavor of the Day before you go.