Scotty’s Brewhouse has signed a deal for its first restaurant in the state of Illinois.  Scott Wise announced this week that his latest Brewhouse location would open in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, this Spring. The new restaurant will be located at 2001 South Neil Street, just a mile from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

The restaurant will be located within the newly developed Carriage Center, which recently saw the openings for a Wendy’s, AT&T, Starbucks, Panchero’s Mexican Grill, Brixx Pizza, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and a Rainstorm Carwash. By the end of 2015, the center will also include a Harvest Market Convenience Store and a Home2 Suites by Hilton. Opening in 2016 along with Scotty’s Brewhouse will be a County Market and Ace Hardware.

Scotty’s will serve lunch and dinner and seat 250-300 between its dining room and large outdoor patio. As with all Scotty’s locations, it is “all ages welcome” and family friendly.  The new restaurant will be open seven days a week at 11 a.m. The restaurant will feature the traditional Scotty’s Brewhouse food menu, full service bar with 30 draft beers and will join the other Brewhouse locations in carrying beer from Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company. Guests are able to purchase carryout growlers of all the Thr3e Wise Men brews Monday through Sunday.

“We are so excited to finally enter the Champaign market,” says Wise, president and CEO of a Pots & Pans Production, the management company for Scotty’s Brewhouse, Scotty’s Brew Club and Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. “I’ve been searching this market for almost four years now trying to find the right opportunity.  We have finally found it and a great partnership with Shapland Realty at Carriage Center.”

Scotty’s has a full bar of high-end bourbons, margaritas, mojitos, and martinis.  There is also a vast 100-item food menu with everything from homemade pizza to gourmet hand-pattied burgers made with different blends of locally farmed meat, fries, double-breaded chicken wings with homemade sauces, Twinkie Milkshakes, homemade cakes and pies, and the world-famous fried Dill Pickle Chips.

Scotty’s has a full kids menu where 12 and under eat free every Sunday and Tuesday. This “upscale sports pub” has over 60 TVs. Scotty’s Brewhouse also offers full-service catering for small and large parties and delivery to both residential and commercial.

“My restaurant is the ‘anti chain chain,’” Wise says. “We run our company with the mindset that every location will be unique, individualized and run with the professionalism of a large company; but, the feel and atmosphere of a ‘mom and pop’ restaurant.  We embed ourselves in the community and are actively involved in charities, philanthropic endeavors and community service.  It is important to me not only as a restaurant owner; but, as a father of 4 trying to raise my children with a philosophy of doing good in our world and making a positive impact in our communities we reside.”

In addition to the Scotty’s Brewhouse concept, Wise also owns the Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Company. Thr3e Wise Men is a family-friendly restaurant and brewing facility serving homemade thin crust pizza, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers. There are two current Thr3e Wise Men locations, the original in Indianapolis and the second location opening this December in Muncie, Indiana. Brewing its own beer in house, Thr3e Wise Men has received a number of prestigious Beer Awards including two Great American Beer Festival Awards in 2015, 15 Indiana State Fair Brewers Cup Awards from 2012-2015, 1 World Beer Cup Award in 2014, and one Brew Bracket Award in 2013.

In 2016, Scotty’s Brewhouse will celebrate its 20th anniversary in business and will have several throwback specials, celebratory anniversary items for sale and ongoing promotions throughout the year. Scott Wise opened the original Brewhouse in 1996 in his hometown of Muncie, Indiana. With the opening of the Champaign-Urbana location, the company will now have 18 locations in the Midwest and Florida. Scotty’s will employ between 75-100 part time and full time positions.  They will begin taking applications online beginning late winter 2015.