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The city of Huber Heights and TJ Chumps are scheduled to close on a little more than three acres of land early next week that has the restaurant on track to likely open late this year.
But one of TJ Chumps’ owners admitted that the company has been worried about the lack of progress in GoodSports Enterprises’ $22 million fieldhouse/hotel project that would be next to the restaurant.
Jim Dunn, a co-majority owner, said the land closing will take place Monday or Tuesday of next week. Construction of the $2.5 million project will then start immediately and the company would like to open Dec. 29, Dunn said.
“There were some problems because we were worried about the GoodSports deal,” Dunn said. “But I think fears on that have mitigated somewhat. We’ve moved forward. We can’t afford to waste another day.”
Dunn said TJ Chumps is “taking more of a risk now” with GoodSports’ opening delayed because of financing issues. The restaurant will be the chain’s fourth in the area.
“Our real target market is the citizens of Huber Heights,” Dunn said. “GoodSports next door is an added benefit.”
TJ Chumps plans to build at 7050 Executive Boulevard, east of the city’s $18 million music center and between the GoodSports village and Meijer.
Huber Heights City Council agreed in June to sell the 3.013-acre lot to TJ Chumps for $600,000. The city’s Planning Commission approved the detailed development plan later that month.
TJ Chumps plans to build a 13,000-square-foot building that will include a dining area, banquet room, bar and large patio area with removable walls. Dunn said the restaurant considered downsizing, but decided to move forward with a full-size model.
The restaurant will employ up to 70 people, depending on the time of year, he said.
Huber Heights City Manager Rob Schommer said the city will prepare the building pad for TJ Chumps, a rough estimate cost of about $15,000. Water and sewer utilities are already at the front of the site.
“They know now during their construction that the GoodSports folks won’t be there the entire time,” Schommer said. “But there’s a really nice music center coming out of the ground, and people who go there will want to eat, too.”
TJ Chumps has restaurants in Englewood, Fairborn and Miamisburg.
GoodSports did not respond Monday for a request for comment. Schommer said GoodSports representatives are expected to be in town in the next couple weeks to meet with local banks.
“That tells me they are still progressing and still looking at financing options,” Schommer said.
Huber Heights city attorney Alan Schaeffer said last month the city is not in a position to give GoodSports six acres of land because the company has not done enough in its quest to build its fieldhouse/hotel.
There has been no activity at the site since a construction trailer and fencing were installed in April. City officials have said the only piece of the development agreement for GoodSports to satisfy is the construction completion date, which is Sept. 1, 2015.
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