Meatheads Closes In Elmhurst

ELMHURST, IL — The Meatheads restaurant in Elmhurst unexpectedly closed its doors Wednesday, a blow for local burger-and-fries lovers who took to social media to express their unhappiness. The franchise opened nearly seven years ago at 143 N. York St.

In an interview Thursday, Tobin Wehrle of Elmhurst, a franchise consultant for Meatheads, said the franchise owners decided against renewing the lease and "chose to go in a different direction and leave the restaurant business." He said it was "highly doubtful at this point" that another Meatheads franchisee would come into that site.

Now, it will be harder for Meatheads fans to procure their favorite burgers. The Meatheads chain has 13 other locations, according to its website. The nearest one is in Willowbrook, 7137 S. Kingery Highway, about 20 minutes away from Elmhurst.

Of the 13 restaurants, 10 are in Chicago and the suburbs, including one in Indiana. The three others are in Bloomington, Normal and Champaign. The company got its start in Bloomington, but is now based in Chicago.

On Facebook, residents mourned the loss of Meatheads.

"Oh, no! Their loaded fries were such a guilty pleasure," one man wrote. Chimed in a woman, "My teen is heartbroken." And another said, "What? That place was always packed."

Wehrle said he was sad to see the restaurant go.

"I truly want to thank the people of Elmhurst. I opened that location," he said. "We had awesome employees."

Wehrle said the company was offering to absorb the employees into its other restaurants. He said they would be paid through next week.