By Jon Johnson/Gila Herald
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
THATCHER — Following weeks of packed dining rooms, steady drive-thru queues, and record-breaking sales, the Thatcher Culver’s officially celebrated its grand opening with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Graham County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
The ceremony opened on a solemn note as Graham County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vance Bryce led off with a moment of silence for Patricia Curtis, 70, of Safford, who tragically passed away after being struck by a truck just a block away from SalsaFest on Saturday night.
Reflecting on the restaurant’s immediate impact since opening its doors at 3343 W. Main St., Bryce highlighted how warmly the local community has embraced the new establishment.
“This whole community, I think, has been through your doors and had something to eat, and we’re very glad you’re here in Thatcher,” Bryce said before introducing Thatcher Mayor Jenny Howard.
Mayor Howard extended an official welcome on behalf of the town, praising the restaurant’s operational excellence and high demand during its first month and a half in business.
“Thank you. Welcome back. We’re so excited,” Mayor Howard said. “And I fear they’ve knocked it out of the park because every time I come to eat here, no matter what time of the day it is, it’s totally swamped. Food comes out really quick. It’s beautiful, and it always tastes amazing. And we’re just so happy to have them here. We’re happy for Thatcher. We’re happy for the Gila Valley, and we truly appreciate the Gila Valley for supporting Culver’s. It’s all-out amazing.”
Neighboring business leaders also voiced their support. Mayra Parra, president of the American Southwest Credit Union Gila Valley Branch located adjacent to the restaurant, welcomed the team to the plaza.
“Welcome to the neighborhood. Thank you so much for being here,” Parra said. “We are so happy you are here. We love your burgers, and I love your custard. Oh my God, I’m a fan. Thank you so much. You are welcome to still share my parking lot. You’re bringing more business.”
Charmaine Chidester, Director of Grants and Outreach for Eastern Arizona College, shared the franchise’s history, citing an episode of NPR’s How I Built This podcast that details founder Craig Culver’s start in 1984 in small-town Wisconsin. Chidester emphasized how Culver’s commitment to menu variety and employee investment fits perfectly in rural Arizona.
Chidester also revealed that the local operating team—owner/operator Nick Walker, along with business partners Kevin and Sandy Adams, Stacy and Courtni Walker, and Matthew and Brook Elam—has consistently ranked among the nation’s best. Over the last eight years, the team has landed in the top five operating teams nationally, taking first place twice.
That tradition of excellence translated to an unprecedented opening week in Thatcher, where the store outsold every other Culver’s location in the nation.
“When a company develops its employees, all employers benefit,” Chidester said. “We have this testing ground for our youth who’ve never had jobs. They get to come in here and figure out what customer service is about, what good management looks like, and how they should be treated as an employee. I’m really excited about the economic engine that you guys have placed here by investing in Thatcher and helping us develop our workforce.”
Addressing the crowd, Owner/Operator Nick Walker expressed deep gratitude for the support the Gila Valley has shown during construction and the store’s first months.
“First and foremost, I want to thank everyone here today just for coming out and showing their love and support, but most importantly, the community that’s really stepped up and made my dream come true,” Walker told the crowd. “It’s definitely something I’ve been chasing my whole life, and I just have the utmost appreciation and thank you for everyone. It’s really, truly a blessing to be a part of a community that takes care of each other because it really fits with the Culver brand. It’s all about giving back to each other, helping out your neighbor, and just being there for one another.”
Speaking with the Gila Herald following the ceremony, Walker reflected on overcoming initial doubts about opening in a smaller market and praised the community’s overwhelming response over the restaurant’s first few months.
“I just want to bring up again, I’m truly blessed to be part of this community,” Walker said. “From the start, people that didn’t have their hands in the pot or weren’t involved with any of the construction or building process were still offering a hand. Something like that really connects with me—just the passion to want to do more for this community and be more involved to give my thanks.
“Oh, it’s been busy, and I have Thatcher to thank for that,” Walker added. “I was coming in here a little concerned with the smaller population, but I think everyone has had their chance to have a ButterBurger and enjoyed it so far. Thank you guys once again, and just keep on coming out—we’ll make sure to do our best to keep on serving you.”
Culver’s is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
