Oak Forest Culver's Named Among Top 5 In Country, Competing For $50K

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest's Culver's location has been named as among the top five in the country.

The location at 5410 W. 159th St. has been named a Gold Finalist in the annual Culver’s Crew Challenge, which will crown a winner in January 2025.

Known for its ButterBurgers, fresh frozen custard and Wisconsin cheese curds, Culver's has 1,000 locations across the country.

Nick Strache is the owner-operator of the Oak Forest Culver’s, which has established a strong culture of service excellence and guest satisfaction in just 14 months since first opening their doors, the company said in a release. In that short time, the team has won over the hearts of their community on the way to its first Crew Challenge Finals appearance.

"It’s an honor to have brought Culver’s to Oak Forest, and the incredible team members here have made me proud every day with their dedication to making our guests happy," said Strache. "It’s rewarding to see them recognized for their commitment to giving our guests the best possible experience every time they walk through our doors."

In the Crew Challenge, restaurants compete in the areas of quality, service, cleanliness, hospitality, community outreach and team member training and development. The winner will be announced at Culver’s annual convention in Dallas in January.

"Since the day we opened our first restaurant, everything we do at Culver’s starts with our outstanding team members," said Craig Culver, co-founder of Culver’s. "It’s our honor to celebrate the Oak Forest Culver’s team as they continue to make us proud through their commitment to their guests and the community."

Each of the five finalists will receive prize money, with $50,000 going to the national champion and $12,500 to each of the four runner-up restaurants. Winnings are shared between the restaurant managers and team members.

The Oak Forest Culver’s team members will be honored in a ceremony on Dec. 12, including a visit from CEO Rick Silva and co-founder Craig Culver.