Beloved Burger Chain Expanding Again in Wisconsin and Illinois

If you're from the Midwest, chances are you've heard someone wax poetic about Culver’s. If you haven’t, well, you're about to. The Wisconsin-born fast food chain, best known for its ButterBurgers and rich, creamy frozen custard, is growing once again. According to a recent report from USA Today, Culver’s is doubling down on its home turf, while continuing to win over hearts and stomachs in nearby Illinois. I'm just glad we've got a location in Dubuque that satisfies those curd cravings!

The chain has grown into a regional icon featuring over 1,000 restaurants across 26 states since opening in Sauk City in 1984. In fact, Culver’s continues to open 50 to 60 new locations annually, with 2025 being no exception.

In Illinois and Wisconsin, Culver’s has recently opened or will break ground soon in several communities:

Illinois

• Mahomet (newly opened)
• Bradley (coming soon)
• Diamond (coming soon)
• Rantoul (coming soon)

Wisconsin

• Combined Locks (coming soon)
• Eau Claire (coming soon)
• Evansville (coming soon)

For longtime fans, this expansion means easier access to that iconic ButterBurger. It's our classic Midwest comfort food, and Culver’s does it better than just about everyone. And let’s not forget the other options. My co-worker Ken regularly offers to bring me back cheese curds and chicken strips when he makes one of his frequent Culver’s runs. How could I say no? The curds are perfectly crisp and gooey, and those chicken strips? Top-tier.

And who could forget their classic concrete mixers? It's a top-tier item when my family stops to eat there.

While other fast food chains have been scaling back in 2025, Culver’s is leaning in. Doing so has clearly helped it grow from a single restaurant in a small Wisconsin town to a beloved brand across the nation.

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So, whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the ButterBurger bandwagon, keep an eye out. Culver’s could be opening its doors in your town next.