Culver’s opening day starts slow in DeKalb

Senior biology major Jamie Masalinto (second to right) and senior kinesiology major Gevy Cunanan (far right) stop by Culver’s, 1262 W. Lincoln Highway, during its grand opening Monday. “Everything went well,” said manager Luke Maier. “New team members did an awesome job at handling everything from food to making sure guests leave happy.”

By Linda Loya

The Culver’s fast food chain expanded into DeKalb Monday, opening at 1262 W. Lincoln Highway.

Culver’s is open 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. every day. The restaurant offers fast food items from cheese curds to seafood dinner plates. Prices on the menu vary from the $3 to $15. DeKalb granted permits for Culver’s to build another restaurant in the city in March.

Manager Jeff Newkirk said he was excited for the opening day of the restaurant even though it was slower than he expected.

“To be honest, I did not know what to expect. It is a new location and everything,” Newkirk said. “Honestly, I had hoped that we would be a little busier through the lunch hours, but this gives us a bit of a chance to ramp up at a more controlled place.”

The restaurant had about 20 customers at 1 p.m.

“Opening day is going pretty good,” said employee Linda Young. “It is a little slow, but we are hoping to get a little busier tonight with the college students. That is when they tend to come out.”

Freshman business major McKenzie Colacino, who was at the restaurant Monday, said her favorite items off the Culver’s menu included the Bacon ButterBurger and Cookie Dough Concrete Mixer.

“ … Although there are a lot of food choices around campus, none of them beat Culver’s,” Colacino said.

Culver’s was established in Saulk City, Wis., by the Culver family in 1984. Craig Culver, son of George and Ruth Culver, took his favorite childhood treats to create the restaurant’s signature menu items, ButterBurgers and frozen custard.