Longtime Franchisees Expand Beef 'O' Brady's Presence in Illinois with Second Location

Dave Verkler and his wife Maria have been part of the Beef 'O' Brady's family since 2005, opening their first location in Bourbonnais, Illinois, in 2006. After years of success and deep community involvement, the couple is taking their expertise to a new market with the opening of their second location in Champaign, Illinois. 

Located in a bustling retail area, the new Beef 'O' Brady's restaurant will feature a remodeled 7,500-square-foot space with seating for over 230 guests, a kids' arcade and the brand’s signature menu of wings, burgers and pizza. The Verklers are excited to bring their hands-on approach to this new chapter, building on the reputation they’ve earned as trusted franchisees and community members.

1851 Franchise spoke to Dave about the couple’s franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Dave Verkler: We've been with the system since 2005 and opened our first store in 2006 in Bourbonnais. Before that, my wife Maria was a flight attendant for a major airline. She wanted to be closer to home, so she initially served as the general manager of our Beef ‘O’ Brady’s.

I had a full-time career, but retired in 2020 and then took over day-to-day operations.

1851: Tell me about the new opening in Champaign.

Dave: We’ve been considering expanding into a second territory for many years. We visited various areas, but Champaign stood out as having a lot of opportunities. The location we found is in a prime retail area of Champaign.

It’s a great space. The building used to be a restaurant but has been closed for nearly four years and wasn’t being maintained. It’s about 7,500 square feet, and once we finish the remodel, it will have seating for about 230-235 people. We’re also adding a kids' arcade and, of course, all the great food Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is known for, like wings, burgers and pizza. Pizza has been very successful for us in Bourbonnais, and we expect it to be popular in Champaign as well.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Dave: I really like that the brand operates like a chain but with flexibility for franchisees. There’s room to adapt to our local community, unlike some brands with rigid guidelines. That adaptability is one of the biggest draws for me, along with the great food.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Dave: It’s always challenging to enter a new market, but I believe the product we have and the success we’ve experienced in Bourbonnais will help us make the Champaign location successful.

This is a big step for us. We’ve been very comfortable in Bourbonnais, where the community knows us. Moving into a new area feels like recreating the brand in some ways. We do have plans to expand into other territories in the future, but this is an important first step.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Dave: Maria and I are very invested in our community. We’ve won a few awards from the franchise, which is nice, but what really matters to us is being present. People know who we are because we’re in the store all the time, meeting with customers. Many of our customers feel more like friends than just patrons.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Dave: Do your research. Franchising isn’t for everyone, but Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has the ingredients for success. The brand has been around since 1985 and is well-established.

They also have two other brands associated with their concept, and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is recognized as a leader in the industry. The reputation really speaks for itself.

ABOUT BEEF 'O' BRADY’S

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is a franchise of family sports pubs that provides the perfect atmosphere for friends and families to watch the game and grab a bite. With a focus on providing value without sacrificing quality, the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s menu features delicious family favorites like award-winning wings, fresh Angus burgers, crisp salads, USDA Choice Cut sirloin, and grilled salmon, along with a kids’ menu and a full bar for the adults. Beef 'O' Brady's is strongly dedicated to community involvement through ongoing partnerships with local schools, youth sports leagues and other community groups. Beef 'O' Brady's currently operates 140 locations in 21 states. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit http://www.beefobradysfranchise.com/.