Culver’s, a Wisconsin-based fast-casual restaurant known for its ButterBurgers and Fresh Frozen Custard, is getting ready to open a new location in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
The restaurant is currently under construction and is expected to open in February 2027, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Franchisee Ross Thomas will own and operate the new location, adding to his existing Culver’s restaurant in Elgin, Illinois. The Ooltewah restaurant will be the second Culver’s in the Chattanooga market, following the Hixson location that opened last year.
Culver’s was founded in 1984 by Craig and Lea Culver and Craig’s parents, George and Ruth, in Sauk City, Wisconsin. The family opened its first restaurant with a menu centered on ButterBurgers and Frozen Custard, two offerings that remain central to the brand today. The company began franchising in 1990, with its first franchise location opening in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
The restaurant is known for its ButterBurgers, made with fresh, never-frozen beef and cooked to order. Customers can also find chicken sandwiches, seafood, salads, sides, and value baskets. Another popular offering is the restaurant’s Fresh Frozen Custard, which is made in small batches throughout the day.
Culver’s also serves Wisconsin Cheese Curds, which became part of the menu in 1997. Other menu options include frozen custard desserts such as Oreo Concrete Mixers, which combine custard with Oreo cookies. The restaurant also offers a rotating Flavor of the Day, giving customers another option when stopping in for dessert.
The Ooltewah opening will add another location to Culver’s growing presence in Chattanooga. With Thomas bringing more than two decades of experience with the brand, the new restaurant will introduce the company’s signature burgers, custard, and other menu items to the community.
