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A Wendy's and a Culver's are coming to Portage.
The fast-food restaurants will open near each other in the AmeriPlex at the Port business park just north of Interstate 94.
Columbus, Ohio-based Wendy's serves up square burgers, fries, chicken nuggets, its new saucy nuggs and Frostys, as well as a full breakfast menu. It's known for its "Where's the Beef?" ad campaign and its saucy Twitter account, which is known for roasting people and especially competitors.
Wisconsin-based Culver's serves up fresh-to-order butter burgers, cheese curds, root beer, frozen custard, concrete mixers, North Atlantic cod sandwiches and chicken tenders.
The Wendy's is under construction north of the McDonald's in the 385-acre business park at6370 Ameriplex Drive, Portage. It has two existing Portage restaurants at 2675 Willowcreek Road and 6181 U.S. 6.
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"It's right there by McDonald's,"PortagePlanning & Community Development Director Tom Cherry said. "Wendy's is going up there right now. They just started. They've been through out office and just started building. You actually can see the shell now."
Culver's, which has a restaurant in town at6139 U.S. 6, plans to open its second Portage location by the McDonald's in AmeriPlex by the Port off Indiana 249 just south of the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.
Developed by South Bend-based Holladay Properties, AmeriPlex at the Port is home to many industrial and logistics companies, as well as the Ironworkers Local 395 union hall. It's also home Bass Pro Shops, Quaker Steak and Lube, Starbucks, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Hooters, LongHorn Steakhouse and Fairway Indoor Golf.
Hooters was the last new restaurant to open at AmeriPlex at the Port in 2018, not counting El Salto recently being converted into Fairway Indoor Golf when the owners decided they wanted to try a new concept at that spot.
Portage Mayor Austin Bonta said the addition of new dining options would benefit residents.
"It speaks to the fact that Portage is open for business," he said. "The planning department's reputation is truly improving. It's really known that Portage is really known for being eager and excited for economic growth in our city. Our residents are excited to see it. Our planning department is open for growth and solution-driven. Here in Portage, we can't run your business for you but we want you to succeed."
A look back at Northwest Indiana businesses that closed in 2023
A look back at Region businesses that closed in 2023
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Joseph S. Pete
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