Andrew Gravely started his career with Culver’s in Florida as a district manager, developing teams and systems to expand the company’s brand.
Gravely said Culver’s values, support, hospitality and community involvement led him to open his first franchise in Florida in 2019. When the time came to expand his business again, he and his wife, Kristina, looked to the Austin area, settling in Georgetown.
The setup
Jennifer Suplita, owner of the Round Rock Culver’s, inspired him to relocate to Texas after the pair met in franchisee classes. Gravely officially opened the Georgetown Culver’s in October 2024 with business partner Jason Suplita, after falling in love with the city’s small-town feel.
“My wife and I are engaged in this,” Gravely said. “We all live [locally], my partner lives [locally]. We are a true family-owned business.”
What they offer
Culver’s serves salads, seafood, sandwiches, burgers, chicken and sides, such as cheese curds and pretzel bites. One of the most popular dishes is the ButterBurger, which features fresh ground beef on a buttered and toasted bun.
“We do cook everything fresh,” Gravely said. “I don't think people realize [that] your burger doesn't hit the grill until after you’ve ordered it.”
Culver’s also sells vanilla and chocolate frozen custard that can be topped with fresh fruit, sprinkles, candy, nuts, cookie dough and syrups. The dessert is made in-store every two hours, Gravely said.
Why it matters
The two aspects of ownership that keep Gravely motivated are community involvement and investing in employees.
“At this location, we do a lot of things for the community,” Gravely said. “Not only is it just me wanting to do that, [but] Culver’s backs us 100%.”
The local Culver’s engages with Georgetown ISD by hosting profit shares and donating free meals as attendance incentives. The larger Culver’s company also funds scholarships through the Culver’s Foundation and donated over $6.5 million to agriculture through the Thank You Farmers Project, according to its website.
Dig deeper
Gravely said he takes pride in uplifting younger employees and helping them become leaders.
“To see a 15-year-old become phenomenal over a couple of years and understand work ethic and become a leader and be inspired by that, to me, is huge,” Gravely said.
Gravely also hosts a book club with managers to help build leadership and management skills, while focusing on relationships and mentorship.
The Georgetown Culver’s currently hosts monthly events to engage with community members. Kids Night is every first Monday of the month, and Senior Night is every second Tuesday. Gravely said one of the reasons he built this location was to support and become a staple within the senior community.
What’s next
Moving forward, Gravely is looking forward to hosting events consistently and hopes to eventually expand to an additional location.
