Unmatched coverage: We are committed to covering economic development in the city of Huber Heights.
More coverage: For complete local government coverage in the region, visit MyDaytonDailyNews.com.
A new family sports restaurant is scheduled to open next week in Huber Heights near the city’s multi-million dollar entertainment venue.
TJ Chumps plans to unveil its $2.6 million, 13,000-square-foot restaurant to the public at 11 a.m. Monday at 7050 Executive Boulevard, just east of the city's $19.3 million music center. Invitation-only events are scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights, according to Jim Dunn, the restaurant's co-owner.
The restaurant — which seats 350 people — includes a dining area, banquet room, bar and large patio area with removable walls. It will employ as many as 70 people during peak times, Dunn said.
“There’s a good buzz going on,” Dunn said. “I’ve been hearing a lot of good things, that Huber Heights needs a nice sit-down restaurant. Our banquet room is going to be a pretty good hit. There’s not a place in Huber Heights that’s fulfilling that need.”
Dunn said the restaurant will open at 11 a.m. seven days a week, and close around 11 p.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on the weekends.
The private banquet room can hold 100 people, with a sound-proof partition that could split the room in half. There is no fee to reserve the room, which has complete audio/visual capabilities.
“This is the first business to open after the city started the music center project,” assistant city manager Scott Falkowski said. “The goal was to cause development. This is a sign of that.”
Falkowski said the city has had discussions with developers and has given tours of the land in The Heights area around the music center. An entertainment district with retail, office, hospitality and multi-family components would be ideal, he said.
“A wide variety of things,” Falkowski said. “We’re just looking for the best use that complements the area.”
TJ Chumps also has restaurants in Englewood, Fairborn and Miamisburg. Dunn said the company is considering building its fifth restaurant in Sugarcreek Twp.
Huber Heights received $150,000 less than expected up front for the land it sold to TJ Chumps because of the uncertainty, at the time, of the GoodSports Enterprises fieldhouse/hotel project next to the restaurant.
The city collected $450,000, with the remaining $150,000 deferred if construction of a “sports-centric development” starts within two years.
Last month, GoodSports announced it has suspended its $22 million project in Huber Heights indefinitely.
The Huber Heights music center is expected to open in the spring. The 4,500-seat covered seasonal venue is located at 6800 Executive Blvd.
About the Author