MADISON – Start with buttery buns. Add a fresh beef patty and a slab of Wisconsin cheese and you have yourself a famous Culver’s ButterBurger!
Veteran restaurateur Mike Hinesh opened the second location of his award-winning Culver’s franchise this week. The new restaurant is at Clift Farm on U.S. 72 near Madison.
The Madison Chamber of Commerce; Madison County Commissioner Phil Vandiver; Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon; Breland Companies President Joey Ceci; and Scoopie the Custard Cone joined Hinesh for the official grand opening and ribbon cutting.
The veteran restauranteur opened the first Culvers in North Alabama three years ago in the Kroger Plaza at Browns Ferry Road and Wall-Triana Hwy in Madison.
It was one of the first businesses in the area to hold a live grand opening post-pandemic.
At first, Hinesh did not know for certain how Madison customers would like Culver’s famous butterburgers and frozen custard, but sales soared from the beginning, winning Hinesh a national silver “Newcomer of the Year” franchise award for the location, just a year after its opening.
The store ranked No. 22 in sales revenue out of more than 900 stores nationwide.
Ironically, Hinesh said he looked at Clift Farm for the first opening, but it was little more than a big pile of red dirt at the time.
“Going back to 2019, I always liked the idea of having a store in the Clift Farm development,” he said. “But three years ago, they had not yet sold a single lot and the site was not quite ready.
“Today it is thriving so, after experiencing the amazing success of the other store, I was happy to make the decision to build the second store in that area.”
Hinesh has been in the restaurant business since 1987. He graduated from the Walt Disney World Culinary apprenticeship program and is a former Walt Disney World chef and restaurant guest service manager at the Florida resort.
“You have to be actively engaged as an owner/operator for a Culver’s, so I will be onsite with both locations regularly,” he said.
Each location of Culver’s created between 60 and 100 jobs for the area, he said.
Culver’s is known for its fresh frozen custard, a creamy delight made from high-quality, fresh Wisconsin dairy. Culver’s offers three flavors daily – vanilla, chocolate and a Flavor of the Day, and any frozen treat can be customized with more than 30 mix-ins and toppings to make a custard candy “concrete.”
Other items include chicken sandwiches and fresh garden salads. Side options include crinkle-cut fries and Wisconsin cheese curds, a Dairyland delicacy. There is also a kids’ menul
Culver’s is open daily 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
They are also hiring adults. With kids going back to school, you may be considering a day job. We will be hiring around 100 people at the Clift Farm store.
Click here to apply.
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