[John_W]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I am a native cheesehead but they did not have any of these in WI when I was there up through 1970. Long time ago though except for some side trips to see grandmother in central WI when I was in law school and the working in the U of MN Law Library (1986-late 1991).

Culver's - Wikipedia

On the cover of Today's Daily Sun;



As a former resident of Wisconsin, Helen Feeney had been looking forward to the grand opening of Culver’s restaurant in The Villages.

“It was important that I show up on the first day,” said Feeney, a past president of the Lake Sumter chapter of the Wisconsin Club. “Now I don’t have to drive as far as Clermont.”

Feeney and other guests, which is what the restaurant’s staff calls its customers, gathered Monday at the location on Wedgewood Lane at Southern Trace Plaza to try some of its Midwest menu.

Culver’s was founded by Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents, George and Ruth, in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin. Since that time, it has expanded its reach to about half of America.

Owner and operator Shad Finley, originally from De Soto, Wisconsin, thought Culver’s and The Villages would be a perfect fit.

“I thought it would be a great addition to what The Villages has created here,” Finley said.

Finley previously worked at The Villages Insurance, but he found himself toying with the idea of running a restaurant.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “The Culver’s brand is A-plus. We’re in the people business.”

Finley plans to get the restaurant involved in the community, giving back to various organizations and charities.

“We want to have a positive impact,” he said.

The restaurant’s signature frozen custard is made in small batches two times each day, kept at a cold temperature to make it smooth. The beef brought in from the Midwest is fresh, not frozen.

One of its frozen custard flavors gets the spotlight treatment every day. Today’s flavor is Peanut Butter Cup, while Wednesday’s is Oreo Overload.

In addition to burgers and frozen custard, Culver’s offers dinner plates including Atlantic cod, beef pot roast and chopped steak.

Guests were given a number for their order, and their food was brought to their table.

Finley’s mother, Shirley Walleser, came down from De Soto for opening day.

“Good food is important to people,” she said. “There’s nothing like Midwest meat and cheese.”

Feeney’s first meal at this Culver’s was its famous cheese curds, which are made from deep-fried yellow and white Wisconsin cheddar cheese, and some coffee.

“They’re wonderful,” said Feeney, of the Village of Orange Blossom Gardens. “I think they’re better than french fries.”

She planned to come back later in the day for a ButterBurger with cheese or some frozen custard.

At another table, Sandy Fystro got a ButterBurger with cheese, while her husband, Lloyd, got the North Atlantic Cod Filet sandwich and a Concrete Mixer frozen custard. Both were happy to see this Culver’s open.