Culver’s Franchisees Building at Former Elementary School Site in Loves Park

A Midwest chain looks to be opening a new Illinois location next year.

Evan Gallagher
Written By Evan Gallagher
Regional Reporter
The new Culver's is in the plans. (Image credit: culvers.com)

More butterburgers are on the way to the northern Illinois town.

A new Culver’s is under construction at 3218 11th Street in Rockford, at the space that was formerly Morris Kennedy School. It comes from franchisees Jimmy and Nichole Smith who also own the Winnebago Culver’s at 807 Cannell Puri Drive. As the building still needs to be demolished, the team is looking at an opening sometime next year.

The Smith family originally opened in Winnebago in 1999, and more recently Jimmy and Nichole took over operations. From reports, the new restaurant will have a two-lane drive-thru. Final approvals are happening at the city level to get the project moving.

Currently, Culver’s has around 135 restaurants across the Prairie State, many franchised. Other locations in Rockford are at 236 N Phelps Avenue and 6727 E Riverside Boulevard. The chain is mostly spread throughout the Chicago area.

The Wisconsin chain is known for their butterburgers, chicken sandwiches and seafood options like their North Atlantic cod sandwich. Fries, salads and desserts like fresh frozen custard flavors are also offered.

This new site is on the east side of 11th Street, across from a Dunkin’. Other chains at this stretch include McDonald’s, Subway and Pizza Hut. This is close to the entrance ramp for the Rockford Bypass.

What Now Chicago has reached out to the franchisees and Culver’s, and is awaiting comment.

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Regional Reporter
Evan Gallagher is a reporter with a passion for news writing from the local to national level. He graduated from Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with a B.S. in Journalism and certificate in social media. He is currently based in Chicago, Illinois.
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