Frozen custard and burger chain Culver's to open restaurant on Jackson Road

According to Scio Township documents, Lowe’s sold a portion of the outlot property to Karich Scio Properties LLC in December for $700,000. Karich Scio Properties LLC is registered to Barbara Smith and Karen Richard.

Max Goldman of Southfield-based Ludwig & Seeley, who is marketing the outlot site, confirmed the sale was for a Culver’s restaurant location. Goldman is now marketing the 5.7-acre property next to Culver’s for an additional retail development.

Richard, an Ann Arbor resident who owns a Culver's in the Jackson area, told AnnArbor.com she hopes to open the Scio Township location by the end of May.

“They are already moving dirt at the site, so weather permitting, I would expect to be open right around Memorial Day at the latest,” she said.

The Wisconsin-based frozen custard and burger restaurant chain has been considering the local market for years. Richard said a deal has been in the works for the Lowe's outlot since late 2008.

She said she wanted to open her first Culver's location in the Ann Arbor area, but couldn't find a "decent property" at the time, so she opened one in the Jackson area in 2006.

“Ann Arbor would have probably been my first choice for a restaurant, however, there wasn’t any property available when I began to look,” she said. “We looked in Pittsfield Township, then a site out by Saline, and then we found this piece of property.”

A Culver’s restaurant, she said, is the “perfect fit” for the Ann Arbor area.

“It’s a fabulous brand and a family-type environment and business,” she explained. “It’s a very close knit organization of owners who believe in extreme hospitality and fantastic food.”

The Culver’s menu includes the restaurant’s signature “ButterBurgers,” sandwiches, salads and frozen custard.

The first Culver’s restaurant opened in Wisconsin in 1984, and there are now over 425 locations nationwide. There are 34 locations in Michigan.

Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.