Ottawa's North Side welcomes 421st Culver's restaurant

 

05/29/2010

 

It's official. Ottawa has been Culverized.

 

The ribbon-cutting for Culver's, a fast-food restaurant famous for its ButterBurgers and frozen custard, was Friday morning on Ottawa's North Side.

 

Mayor Robert Eschbach thought the ceremony was the largest he had seen in his 11 years as mayor. He wasn't sure if it was because people were happy to see the start of development on the North Side or if they were excited for the ButterBurgers.

 

"We're very excited to have you here and we wish you luck," Eschbach said.

 

Many Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce members also were present for the ribbon cutting.

"It couldn't be greater for (Ottawa residents), especially in these times, to have a Culver's," said Boyd Palmer, executive director of the Chamber.

 

Co-owner Tony Milazzo received more than 1,000 job applications, he said. The restaurant hired 65 people, 20 of which are full time.

 

Craig Culver, who has worked in the restaurant business since age 11, started Culver's in 1984 after he turned an A&W drive-in in Sauk City, Wis., into a Culver's.

 

"I didn't know if I was going to survive that first year," he said. "We got through that first year and things started to thrive for us."

 

He believes the success of his restaurants come not from its signature food items, but from its "team members" who exemplify hospitality.

 

Milazzo and co-owner Bobby Maier have worked for Culver's since high school. Maier even met his fiancee, Marisha Jaimes, at a Culver's.

 

"It's really a family unit," Jaimes said. "That's what I like about it."

 

Maier, of Peru, will handle day-to-day operations at the Ottawa restaurant. Milazzo and Maier co-own the Peru and Ottawa stores. Milazzo also owns restaurants in Grayslake and Libertyville.

 

The Ottawa franchise is Culver's 421st store. Culver's opens Monday at 10 a.m. (changed from the previously-announced 10:30 a.m. opening) The Ottawa restaurant, which is at the southeast corner of Route 23 and Interstate 80, has a drive-up window, dine-in and outdoor seating and takeout service.

 

RAR of Ottawa bought a one-acre lot for the restaurant for $325,000 from Etna Ottawa Hotel Group.

 

###

 

 

Contact Information

Stephanie Szuda, stephanies@mywebtimes.com, 815-431-4087