NILES TOWNSHIP — After a bit of a delay, construction on the Niles Culver’s restaurant broke ground Tuesday at 1420 S. 11th St.

Katelinn Rose, who will serve as the owner and operator of the restaurant, said she was excited to see the project back on track after a few minor details delayed the initial ground-breaking, which had been scheduled for March. The restaurant had been slated to open in June or July.

“There were a couple of minor things that came up, but as of now, it’s looking like it will be a smooth process,” Rose said.

Some of those hiccups included obtaining final permits and adjusting the design of the restaurant’s parking lot.

“It was nothing major, just a lot of little things that added up that pushed it back,” Rose said.

Rose said she expects construction to take roughly five months to complete and anticipates opening the restaurant in October.

Rose began working with township officials to initiate the project late last year, which was around the same time she purchased the property. Despite it officially being purchased, she said the for sale sign remained on the property until Tuesday’s ground-breaking.

With the project still on track to open this year, Rose said she was glad to see construction underway.

“It’s really exciting,” Rose said. “Now it’s real. Now I can actually see where the building is going to go.”

Culver’s is perhaps best known by customers for its frozen custard and butter burgers — a hamburger patty served on a buttered and toasted bun — as well as cheese curds, fries, chicken sandwiches, and salads, to name a few.

Rose is a 2015 graduate of Brandywine High School. She got her first job at Culver’s when she was 16 years old. Today, she serves as the Mishawaka location’s general manager. When the Niles location opens, Rose will work full-time as the owner and operator of the new restaurant.

Rose will operate the store with three partners: Keith Remington, Chad Stevenson and Jeff Liegel. Training for restaurant leaders has already begun at the Mishawaka location. Rose said she is still seeking applications for other job opportunities in the restaurant. Those interested in applying to the Niles restaurant are encouraged to call Rose at (574) 222-7778. Interested applicants can also apply to the Mishawaka Culver’s and specify that they would like to work in Niles, Rose said.

While working at the Mishawaka restaurant location, Rose said she has gotten a lot of feedback from customers eager to see the Niles location come to fruition.

“I have guests come in every single day asking about it, which I think is really cool,” Rose said. “Some people come here just to ask about the Niles Culver’s. I’m meeting my regulars now, as they say.”