Business Q&A: 'You Can Taste the Quality' at Culver's

Every week, Romeoville Patch profiles businesses that have chosen to call Romeoville home.

Business name: Culver's

Address: 485 N. Weber Rd.

Owner’s name: Ron Dalrymple

Phone number: 815-372-2777

Website: www.culvers.com

Opening date: March 15, 2004

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Type of business: Restaurant specializing in ButterBurgers and frozen custard

Q: How long have have you been in this line of work, and how did you get your start in the business?

A: Dalrymple said he wanted to open a business where he could be involved in the day-to-day operations. "I had done car washes, but I wanted to work at the business. When I went into [Culver's], I liked the niche," he said.

Q: Why did you choose to open your business in Romeoville?

A: "When I was looking around [for a site], this was available," said Dalrymple, a New Lenox resident. "I liked the location. Weber Road was attractive, and I saw the growth in Romeoville."

Q: What makes Culver's different from other restaurants?

A: Before opening the Romeoville site, "I had to spend half a year doing my due dilligence," including a 16-week training in Wisconsin, Dalrymple said. "I went to the meat-packing plant—it's nice, red, fresh meat, and it doesn't go through the process of being frozen. I went to the dairy plant. What I enjoyed is that I could taste the quality. I said, 'That's what we want to be a part of.'"

Q: What's your most popular item, and why do you think it's the best seller?

A: "There's nothing that replaces the ButterBurger," Dalrymple said of the signature burger, served on a lightly toasted, buttered bun. "But the custard is right up there."

Q: Tell us one thing most people don't know about your company.

A: While it's famous for its frozen custard (including its rotating "flavor of the day") and burgers, Culver's has an extensive menu. "Walleye's the big one," Dalrymple said of the Lenten favorite. "People ask for the walleye all year." Dalrymple said diners also are often surprised to learn the restaurant serves up award-winning pork tenderloin and its chicken is American Humane Certified by the American Humane Association. "It's not caged, it's free-range," Dalrymple said. "It's antibiotic-free, and that is almost impossible to find in this industry. ... It tastes better and it's much better for you."

Q: Anything else we should know about your company?

A: Culver's is a supporter of area schools and organizations through fundraisers. "We do about four [fundraisers] a month. I think it's just the right thing to do, but it's also good business. I just decided to become a big part of Romeoville," said Dalrymple, who also serves on the board of directors for the Romeoville Area Chamber of Commerce.