Jan. 7—CHAMPAIGN — A restaurant chain with a focus on providing a family-friendly sports-pub atmosphere is coming to north Champaign.
David and Maria Verkler of Bourbonnais plan to open a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s franchise at 730 W. Town Center Blvd.
“Tentatively, we’re trying to shoot for April or May,” David Verkler said, adding that the timeline will depend on factors such as their application with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and getting state and local liquor licenses.
The Verklers also own a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Bourbonnais, which opened in 2006 and is the only franchise currently operating in Illinois.
Verkler said that his wife previously worked with a major airline during the early 2000s, when they sought a change that would keep them closer to home. The couple found that Beef ‘O’ Brady’s was a good fit for both them and their community.
According to the chain’s website, the first location was opened by Jim and Jeanette Mellody in 1985 in Brandon, Fla., a suburb of Tampa, with Jim Mellody envisioning it as “a neighborhood pub where friends and families could gather to enjoy good food and sports in a fun, comfortable atmosphere.”
Verkler estimated that there are roughly 130 locations across the United States today. This includes over 70 locations in Florida.
He said there used to be other Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Illinois, but most of these closed in the wake of the 2008 recession.
The new Champaign location is his and Maria’s first foray beyond their Bourbonnais location. Verkler said they liked the size of the community, the opportunities available and the building on Town Center Boulevard.
“Our ambitions really came to life there,” he said. “We’re excited to be coming to Champaign. I think it’s going to be a great market, a great fit for Beef ‘O’ Brady’s.”
The site was formerly home to an O’Charley’s Restaurant and Bar, which closed in January 2021.
County records show that 730WINGS LLC, which is managed by the Verklers, bought the property in November 2024 for $1 million.
Verkler said they hired a landscaper to start cleaning up the site even before the deal had closed, as they were aware that it had become an “eyesore.”
“We look at it as being a diamond in the rough, you might say,” he said. “It’s a great location. It’s a great building. It’s a sound building; it just needed to be cleaned up.”
Furthermore, the Verklers added a small game room to their Bourbonnais location in 2021 and are looking to have a similar piece for their Champaign restaurant.