Culver’s is planning two more Manatee County restaurants. Here’s where
A month after starting construction in Parrish, popular fast food chain Culver’s is planning two additional locations in Manatee County.
The Wisconsin-based franchise known for its made-to-order Butter Burgers and frozen custard desserts has filed plans with Manatee County Development Services for a restaurant at 5512 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, and another at 14544 Arbor Green Trail, Lakewood Ranch.
The site of the planned Manatee Avenue Culver’s is currently home to a Goodwill Donation Center.
A Goodwill spokesperson said the location is still accepting donations, but the Goodwill store closed there after the 2024 hurricane season.
Culver’s expands in Manatee County
The proposed Culver’s will be on the corner of Manatee Avenue West and 55th Street West, according to preliminary site plans.
The Manatee Avenue location will encompass more than 4,200 square feet with 53 parking spaces planned, according to building records.
The Lakewood Ranch location is planned for development near State Road 70 East and Lorraine Road. It will be nearly 4,500 square feet with 50 parking spaces, according to building records.
A construction timeline and opening date have not been announced for either restaurant .
How many Culver’s are in Manatee County?
The two new stores would bring Culver’s footprint in Manatee County to nine restaurants.
The company began construction in November on its seventh store, located at 10824 U.S. 301 N. in the new Shops at Harrison Ranch shopping plaza in Parrish.
Other Manatee County locations for Culver’s are : 3515 Cortez Road W., Bradenton; 1801 U.S. 301 N., Palmetto; 13020 State Road 64 E., Bradenton; 4714 E. State Road 64, Bradenton; 5750 Ranch Lake Blvd., Lakewood Ranch; and 2605 University Parkway, Sarasota.
When did Culver’s begin?
Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig’s parents George and Ruth, opened the popular franchise’s first restaurant in Sauk, Wisconsin in 1984.
The restaurant chain created the Butter Burger, a fresh, never-frozen beef patty seared on a grill and served on a lightly buttered and toasted bun.
Other popular menu items include its signature thick, frozen custard in either a vanilla, chocolate or rotating flavor of the day.
There are also cheese curds, which were introduced in 1997, and sandwiches, salads and drinks.
Business review website Yelp ranked Culver’s the fourth-best burger brand in the United States for 2025.
Culver’s, which began franchising its restaurant in 1990, has more than 1,000 stores in 26 states. The company opened its first area restaurant in 2014 on University Parkway.
For more information, visit Culvers.com.
