Culver’s Targeting 2027 Opening in Auburndale
ButterBurgers, chicken, seafood, cheese curds, and frozen custard will define the menu at this new location.
AUBURNDALE, FL - Culver’s is planning a new location at 1921 US-92, Auburndale, FL 33823, led by co-owner Nathan Devine and owner-operator Scott Hunt, who will oversee day-to-day operations. Devine told Business Debut the team is targeting a Q1 2027 opening, pending infrastructure work by the city. The Auburndale Opening is the Sixth Culver's location owned led by Devine and Hunt.
Business Debut learned of this story first from What Now.
What to Expect
The Auburndale restaurant will follow Culver’s standard format, featuring dine-in seating and a drive-thru. The roughly 4,500-square-foot building is expected to seat about 75 guests, including patio seating.
Guests can expect the same experience offered across the brand’s locations, with a focus on hospitality and consistent service. “We don’t call them customers. We call them guests in our restaurants,” Devine told Business Debut.
Menu and Vision
Founded in 1984 in Wisconsin, Culver’s has grown to more than 1,000 locations nationwide, with Florida serving as one of its fastest-growing markets.
The menu will include the brand’s signature ButterBurgers, made with fresh, never frozen beef, along with chicken and seafood options, including its well-known fish fry. The restaurant will also serve fresh frozen custard made in-house daily, along with Wisconsin cheese curds sourced from a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin.
Devine’s connection to the brand dates back to his time in Wisconsin, where he grew up near the original Culver’s and worked for the founding family. “I fell in love with the brand. I love what Culver’s stands for,” he told Business Debut.
Ownership and Community Impact
This will be Devine’s sixth Culver’s location. His first opened in 2016 in Kissimmee, followed by additional restaurants in Lakeland and Haines City, with a recent opening in Leesburg in fall 2025.
Hunt, the owner-operator, will be the on-site leader in Auburndale, with his name featured on the restaurant. Devine emphasized the importance of local ownership and community involvement across his locations.
“We like to be good stewards of the community and be actively involved,” Devine told Business Debut, noting efforts such as sponsoring school programs, supporting local sports teams, and hosting fundraising nights.
The team plans to bring that same level of involvement to Auburndale once the restaurant opens.
Opening Timeline
The project is currently awaiting completion of a city-led sewer pipeline required for development in the area. Devine said the team expects to close on the property in summer 2026, with construction beginning shortly after.
An opening is currently targeted for early 2027, though timing remains dependent on the city’s progress.
Hours
Planned hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 11 p.m., though these are subject to change.
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Ross McWaters
