Culver's opens in Crystal Lake after moving down the street

Crystal Lake has a fresh place to buy burgers, shakes and cheese curds.

Jim DiVerde, owner and operator of the Crystal Lake fast-casual eatery, moved his Culver’s into a new building, 400 Pingree Road, on Tuesday.

He bought the Crystal Lake business last year but was leasing an old building about 600 feet south of the new one.

He said the old building wasn’t as modern or affordable.

“It’s been buzzing. Our guests have known about this. The town’s excited,” DiVerde said, adding that both sites were closed Monday so equipment could be moved to the new one.

“Crystal Lake only had one day without a Culver’s,” he said.

DiVerde also owns and operates Culver’s in Bolingbrook, Aurora, Schaumburg, Darien and St. Charles.

Culver’s is a growing Wisconsin-based chain specializing in butterburgers, fresh frozen custard, concrete mixers and cheese curds.

The chain also operates restaurants throughout the area in Woodstock, McHenry, Carpentersville, Huntley, Island Lake and Fox Lake, with one expected to open in October in Harvard.

“I feel like a rock star,” DiVerde said. “I feel so proud because the food and products we serve are so great.”