A Culver's franchise wants in on Whitehall's East Broad action, and the city now has to decide whether ButterBurgers and frozen custard belong on one of its busiest corridors. The proposal would turn a north side parcel just west of Hamilton Road into a roughly 4,500-square-foot Culver's with a drive-through, kicking off a quick series of public hearings that will give neighbors a formal chance to weigh in.
Draft legislation on the city's committee agenda shows Mannik & Smith Group submitted a special permit request on behalf of Meyer Foods Management Company to allow drive-through facilities at 4600 E. Broad Street. The ordinance, listed as No. 034-2026, covers two parcels and describes the project as lining up with the city's Whitehall Works development blueprint. Council committee materials say the building would be more than 4,500 square feet, according to Whitehall city committee materials.
The Columbus Dispatch first reported the Culver's filing and notes that the company and franchisee are seeking zoning approvals while stressing that the proposal is in an "early stage" with limited public detail so far. The paper also reports that central Ohio already has several Culver's locations and that the chain lists planned restaurants in Canal Winchester, Lancaster, and Heath. Whitehall's communications director told the outlet the project could break ground at the end of 2026 or in early 2027 if approvals move ahead, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch.
Chain footprint and local context
Culver's traces its roots to Sauk City, Wisconsin, where it opened in 1984, and has since grown into a nationwide chain with more than 1,000 restaurants and a reputation for ButterBurgers and fresh frozen custard. That growth helps explain why franchisees keep zeroing in on busy suburban corridors like East Broad when scouting new sites, per Culver's website.
What comes next
According to the city's docket, the zoning timeline runs through several boards this month. The Whitehall Board of Zoning and Building Appeals is scheduled to review the special permit request on May 11, and the Planning Commission has a public hearing on the drive-through set for May 21 at 6:30 p.m. The City Council is slated to hold a public hearing and vote on the proposal on June 2, with those dates appearing in the city's committee materials, according to Whitehall city committee materials.
Legal and timing notes
Whitehall's draft ordinance includes a strict timing provision, warning that if work does not begin within a year, the "approval shall be voided." That language gives council a clear way to insist on timely progress from any developer. The proposal is also tied directly to the city's Whitehall Works development blueprint, which positions the project as part of the broader economic plan for the area.
