A restaurant franchise known for its ButterBurgers, Wisconsin cheese curds and fresh frozen custard has opened a location in Grand Junction.

Veronica Santoyo and Ryan Koster have opened a Culver’s at 582 24 1/2 Road. The location is the fourth for the chain west of Denver and 900th nationwide.

Koster also owns and operates a Culver’s in Glenwood Springs, where Santoyo worked since its opening in 2017. They decided to open the Grand Junction location as
co-owners and operators.

“It’s a dream come true to bring Culver’s to Grand Junction,” said Santoyo, an immigrant from Mexico who moved to Rifle as a child. “We’re overjoyed at the warm welcome we’ve received from people coming from all over the area, and we can’t wait to introduce ourselves to more members of the community in the months and years to come.”

A grand opening celebration at Culver’s on Feb. 6 included members of the Future Farmers of America chapter in Fruita. The restaurant plans to support the organization with share nights in which a proportion of sales are donated to local causes.

“One of the rewarding things about owning a business is the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the lives of people all over the area,” Santoyo said. “Making a difference in the community is a big part of the Culver’s mission, and we couldn’t be more excited to do that here in Grand Junction.”

Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents George and Ruth, opened the first Culver’s in 1984 in the family’s hometown of Sauk City, Wis.

The first Culver’s franchise restaurant opened in 1990 in Baraboo, Wis. Since then, the franchise has grown to a total of 900 locations in 26 states. Culver’s placed eighth in the 2023 Entrepreneur magazine Franchise 500 ranking.

The Culver’s location in Grand Junction operates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For additional information, log on to the website at www.culvers.com.