Page last updated on January 31, 2019 at 11:37 am
Good morning and welcome all Butterburger and frozen custard connoisseurs of Bloomington! It is a particular pleasure to welcome Mr. Craig Culver, joining us from Culver’s headquarters in Prairie du Sac [Prairie do sack], Wisconsin. Thank you to owner/operators John Laskowski, Jeff Meyer and Neil Miller for inviting me to join in the festivities this morning. This celebration has been 4 years in the making and I think we can all agree that it was absolutely worth the wait!
As many of you are aware, the roots of this new addition to the Bloomington restaurant scene started growing 48 years ago when a talented young ball player from South Bend came to Indiana University to play basketball. He fell in love with Bloomington and Bloomington fell in love with him. He went on to play professional ball and then to success as a color commentator, but he never stayed away long from the home of his alma mater. We are so pleased that when the time came to develop this restaurant, he knew Bloomington was the place. Welcome home, John Laskowski, and thank you for bringing your family and this team with you.
When you think about it, Bloomington and Culver’s share a lot of values. As a community, Bloomington has set, very purposely, high standards. We want a community that is safe, beautiful, sustainable and works well for all who live here. To accomplish that, we have agreed on rules that govern what buildings and signs look like - how far off the street they are, what size they are, even the quality of construction materials used in the project. Why do we do this? Because we believe that our residents and visitors want to live in (or visit) a city that is exceptional. So while it might be easier and faster to locate in other communities, we believe that the extra time and effort it might take to locate here proves to be worth it. We appreciate the vote of confidence that your investment represents.
Culver’s has very high standards - they only serve food made from the freshest ingredients, their customer service is dedicated, this building - and all their buildings - are beautiful, comfortable and clean. Everyone who comes here is made to feel welcome the second they arrive. You have saved trees, and planted trees. You have gone beyond requirements with a beautiful mural on the retaining wall. It’s a place people want to be because of the high standards to which the company holds itself. It’s why customers are flocking here in record numbers. Whether you are a restaurant or a city, holding yourself to high standards is harder, but worth the effort.
So Bloomington and Culver’s are a great fit for each other. I understand this beautiful restaurant, thanks to the hard work, perseverance, creative compromising and steadfast commitment to a dream, is employing 75 workers with some of the best restaurant wages in the area. This restaurant is already serving as a place for families and friends to gather, share a meal and make happy memories together. There is much to celebrate today.
Congratulations and welcome to the community and may you serve a grateful and hungry public for many, many years to come!