How to go
What: Culver's Restaurant
Where: 1301 Ohio 63 in Monroe
Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Business has been brisk at the new Culver’s restaurant on Ohio 63 in Monroe since its soft opening a week ago, said co-owner Bryan Zastrow.
“We didn’t do a whole lot of advertising but we’re starting to get busier each day,” he said. “We’re seeing the product of good word of mouth.”
And many local mouths are getting to see and taste Culver’s good product. The restaurant chain is known for its ButterBurgers, frozen custard and cheese curds (fried white and yellow breaded cheese), and so far, those items along with the bacon double-cheese burger and Concrete Mixer, a fresh frozen custard with a choice of toppings have been top sellers at the Monroe location.
Today at 9 a.m. the new $3 million restaurant, which sits near the entrance of Cincinnati Premium Outlets, will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and Craig Culver, the co-founder of the restaurant chain, will be in attendance.
Zastrow and fellow co-owner Rodney Dent own another Culver’s restaurant on Tylersville Road in Mason, which they bought in 2006. The pair said they are excited about being in Monroe.
“I think this is a perfect time to be here in Monroe with all of its future plans,” Zastrow said. “Everyone has been very welcoming, and it really feels good that we’re being made part of the community. If this is as successful as we think it’s going to be, you’ll be seeing more Culver’s opening up in the area.”
The ever-expanding franchise system now numbers more than 550 family-owned and operated restaurants in 22 states.
Zastrow and Dent have been working together for years. In fact, Dent has been part of Culver’s since it opened its fourth store outside of Waukashah, Wis. In 1996, Dent opened his own store in Oak Creek, Wis..
Dent hired Zastrow when he was 15. And after Zastrow received his college degree in human resources, he went back to work with Dent and Culver’s.
The daily operating hours at the Monroe location will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant, which took five months to build, features dine-in seating, a drive-through window, take-out service and patio seating.
Zastrow said he was “really interested and excited” to see what business would be like this past weekend with all the traffic from the flea markets, the outlet mall and Miami Valley Gaming.
Several customers who dined there said they were glad to have Culver’s in Monroe.
Greg Kessler, of Lebanon, said he’s been to the Mason Culver’s but wanted to check out the new Monroe location.
“I love their milkshakes and the food is good as well,” he said. “It’s new, but this one is nicer than the one in Mason.”
Sean Duley, who works in Mason, and Joe Hagan of Monroe agreed.
“Just by the selection on the menu, I’m ready to come back,” Hagan said. “We needed more selection (of restaurants) in Monroe.”
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