March 23--Sorry, ButterBurger fans, you'll have to wait until next year for Culver's Chicago debut.
Culver's planned Wrigleyville location, at 3500 N. Clark St., is scheduled to open in 2017, spokesman Paul Pitas said. The company aims to break ground in the next few months. Pitas said the franchisee is still working to secure financing.
The location, first announced in 2014 as the chain's first foray into the city, was first scheduled to open in early 2015.
Wisconsin-based Culver's also anticipates a 2017 opening for its restaurant in the city's Portage Park neighborhood. Culver's will lease from a developer that is in the process of closing on the property's purchase in the 4900 block of West Irving Park Road, Pitas said. The restaurant will be part of a larger development to receive $2 million in tax increment financing recently approved by the Chicago City Council.
Pitas said it's uncertain which restaurant will open first.
The franchisees who will operate the two locations weren't immediately available to comment.
The company has 94 restaurants in Illinois. The closest one to Chicago is in Berwyn, and there is another location set to open in Hoffman Estates.
sbomkamp@tribpub.com
