Meatheads Burgers & Fries
Meatheads Burgers & Fries was an Illinois-based fast-casual burger chain known for made-to-order hamburgers and fries cut in front of customers.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Meatheads Burgers & Fries, commonly known as Meatheads, was an American fast-casual restaurant brand specializing in hamburgers, french fries, and related casual dining items. The company began in Bloomington, Illinois, in 2007. Its founders were Tom Jednorowicz, a former executive associated with Potbelly Sandwich Works and Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Doug Reichl, the founder of Tartan Realty Group. The business initially developed a following among students at Illinois State University and younger customers in the Bloomington-Normal area. Meatheads expanded beyond its original market in 2009, entering the Chicago area and gradually building a regional store network. By October 2016, the chain had 17 operating locations, including a restaurant in Champaign near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. The company’s stores were company-owned rather than franchised, and Meatheads did not adopt a franchise model. Its reported annual sales were approximately $5 million in 2011, although the available reference material does not provide later sales figures. The brand positioned itself in the growing specialty-burger segment, describing its restaurants as fast casual rather than conventional fast food. Its competitive set included brands such as Five Guys and Smashburger. Meatheads sought to distinguish the in-store experience through visible preparation and customization. One notable practice was cutting potatoes into fries in front of customers, an approach associated with the made-to-order presentation used by some West Coast burger chains. The concept combined counter-service speed with a more premium menu and restaurant experience than standard fast-food outlets. In 2019, the founders or partners sold Meatheads to Crave Brands, LLC. The change in ownership did not prevent later financial difficulties. On April 9, 2021, Meatheads Burgers & Fries and its parent company, Crave Brands, LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filings marked a major restructuring point for the chain and placed its continued store operations under financial pressure. By September 2023, Epic Burger acquired the remaining six Meatheads locations and began converting them to the Epic Burger brand, starting with the Northbrook restaurant. Only two Meatheads locations were reported to remain in July 2024, and those locations were subsequently replaced as well. Meatheads is therefore a defunct regional restaurant brand rather than an active operating chain. Its principal historical significance lies in its Illinois-focused expansion, its company-owned operating model, and its attempt to occupy a premium fast-casual niche in the competitive American burger market.
History
Meatheads Burgers & Fries was founded in Bloomington, Illinois, in 2007 by Tom Jednorowicz and Doug Reichl. Jednorowicz had previously been an executive connected with Potbelly Sandwich Works and Einstein Bros. Bagels, while Reichl was the founder of Tartan Realty Group. The founders developed the concept as a fast-casual burger restaurant rather than a conventional fast-food outlet. The original Bloomington location became popular with students at Illinois State University and with younger customers in the surrounding community. The chain expanded into the Chicago market in 2009. Its growth remained concentrated in Illinois, and the company operated its restaurants directly rather than through franchisees. By October 2016, Meatheads had 17 locations, including a Champaign restaurant near the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. The company competed in the expanding specialty-burger category alongside brands such as Five Guys and Smashburger. Meatheads attempted to create a more distinctive customer experience through made-to-order preparation and visible food production. In particular, employees cut potatoes into fries in front of customers. This helped reinforce the brand’s fast-casual positioning and its emphasis on freshness and customization. The chain’s menu centered on hamburgers, fries, and related items, although the available reference material does not document a complete menu or detailed product chronology. The business was reported to have approximately $5 million in annual sales in 2011. Meatheads remained a company-owned chain and did not implement franchising. In 2019, the partners sold the company to Crave Brands, LLC. Meatheads and Crave Brands subsequently encountered financial difficulties and both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 9, 2021. The brand’s later operations contracted. In September 2023, Epic Burger acquired the remaining six Meatheads locations and began converting them to Epic Burger restaurants, initially starting with the Northbrook location. Two Meatheads locations were reported to remain in July 2024, but those sites were later replaced as well. Meatheads is consequently regarded as defunct. Its history reflects the rise of regional premium-burger concepts, the challenges of operating a company-owned restaurant network, and the eventual absorption of its remaining sites into another Illinois burger brand.
- 2024
Remaining sites are replaced
[1]The last two reported Meatheads locations are subsequently replaced, ending the brand's physical restaurant presence.
- 2023
Remaining locations are acquired by Epic Burger
[1]Epic Burger acquires six remaining Meatheads locations and begins converting them to its own brand.
- 2021
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
[1]Meatheads and parent company Crave Brands file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 9.
- 2019
Sale to Crave Brands
[1]The partners sell Meatheads to Crave Brands, LLC.
- 2016
The chain reaches 17 locations
[1]Seventeen Meatheads restaurants are reported to be operating by October, including a Champaign location.
- 2011
Reported annual sales reach approximately $5 million
[1]The chain is reported to have approximately $5 million in annual sales for 2011.
- 2009
Chicago-area expansion begins
[1]Meatheads opens locations in the Chicago area, expanding beyond its original Bloomington market.
- 2007
Meatheads is founded in Bloomington
[1]Tom Jednorowicz and Doug Reichl establish Meatheads Burgers & Fries in Bloomington, Illinois.
Products and positioning
A regional fast-casual burger chain offering a more premium, made-to-order alternative to conventional fast food, with visible fry preparation and a company-owned store network.
Burgers · 2007
Hamburgers
Meatheads’ core offering was the made-to-order hamburger. The burgers formed the center of the chain’s fast-casual concept and were positioned as a more premium alternative to standard fast-food hamburgers. Available reference material identifies hamburgers as the principal menu category but does not provide a complete list of recipes, sizes, toppings, or named varieties.
Side dishes · 2007
Fresh-cut fries
French fries were a defining accompaniment at Meatheads. The chain differentiated its preparation through cutting fries in front of customers, emphasizing visible preparation and a made-to-order experience. The practice helped communicate the brand’s fast-casual positioning and provided a recognizable point of difference from competing burger chains.
Brand decisions
2023
Conversion of remaining restaurants to Epic BurgerM&ABackground
Following the contraction of the chain, six Meatheads locations remained available for acquisition.
Action taken
Epic Burger acquired the six locations and began converting them, starting with the Northbrook restaurant.
Aftermath
The conversions effectively ended Meatheads’ identity as an operating restaurant brand; the final reported sites were later replaced as well.
2021
Chapter 11 restructuringOtherBackground
Meatheads and its parent company faced financial distress after the ownership change.
Action taken
Both Meatheads Burgers & Fries and Crave Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 9, 2021.
Aftermath
The filing placed the chain’s future operations under restructuring and preceded the later sale and conversion of its remaining locations.
2019
Sale to Crave BrandsM&ABackground
The founding partners transferred ownership of the restaurant business after years of company-owned expansion.
Action taken
Meatheads was sold to Crave Brands, LLC.
Aftermath
Crave Brands became the parent company, but both entities later entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
2009
Enter the Chicago marketStrategyBackground
After establishing its first market in Bloomington, Meatheads sought to build a broader Illinois presence.
Action taken
The company began opening restaurants in the Chicago area.
Aftermath
The expansion contributed to a regional network that reached 17 locations by October 2016.
Sources1 sources
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