The new Jupiter’s in southwest Champaign’s Windsor at the Crossing development has a very fitting name. Just as Jupiter is (last time I checked) the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter’s has to be the largest bar/restaurant in Champaign. The place is ginormous — three floors of bread and circuses for all ages. The new Jupiter’s has the same pool tables/leagues, the same wonderfully thin pizza, and the same extensive beer list that exists at the mothership downtown. Only this Jupiter’s has something more … an extensive arcade with games for kids ages 4 to 104. There’s a mini-bowling alley (two lanes, that blew me away), skee ball, pop-a-shots, hunting games, driving games, you name it. A few of the games are on the main floor, but most are in the basement. I guess an adequate description would be to call it a scaled-down Dave & Buster’s.
We were there on Saturday with the Peanut. There is no children’s menu per se, but hey, it’s a pizza place — what do you need that for? The service was excellent (of course, it wasn’t that busy yet) and highchairs were readily available, although the bartender didn’t know where they were. Depending on your perspective, the flat-panel TVs in every direction could be a plus or a minus. The warm decor is definitely a bonus, especially the fireplace we sat near. All in all, this will be a destination for kids and adults alike for years to come
15 responses so far ↓
Miss E // November 27, 2007 at 11:34 am
Oh man! I’m bummed that this didn’t open before I left town!
Kirstin // November 27, 2007 at 12:07 pm
We went on Saturday at 5:30p and could not get a table to save our lives–the top floor was reserved and they weren’t taking names or seating people–you had to wait until a table was vacated. Since we had our 2 yr old in tow we left after about ten minutes. I was disappointed since I really wanted to try it. Maybe it would be less busy on a non-holiday weekend.
Leeanthro // November 27, 2007 at 2:34 pm
My sister is working there. (Not that any of you know her or care.)
I love Jupiter pizza but rarely go to the downtown location.
My husband went Saturday night with friends who were in town and said it was great. He didn’t eat, they just had drinks. He said the games were great.
lbotp // November 27, 2007 at 2:39 pm
I forgot to mention this in my original post but we tried to get carry out from there several days earlier.Whoever answered the phone said they were too busy for carry-out orders. I appreciated the honesty, that they didn’t do the you-can-wait-2-hours thing that some other pizza places in town do (and I won’t wait long anyway.) So we called the downtown location and it was ready in 20 min!
Leeanthro // November 27, 2007 at 6:24 pm
They’ve only been open a little over a week. I bet things get better once they find their groove.
Snmnstrz21 // November 27, 2007 at 10:35 pm
I went with my siblings late on Thursday after all the turkey was eaten. And I’m talking late. We were there from 10:30 PM til 1 AM. And it was PACKED!
Old school C-U veteran // November 28, 2007 at 1:52 am
This kind of crap used to be only in places like Naperville, before 1998 when downtown C-U got a dose of Carlo$.
C-U was the alternative to this for many, many years. Rednecks can rejoice! Suburban “culture” came to them. Take a survey at the new Jupiters….how many of you are from the tiny farming villages of less than a 1000 people in the neighboring counties, up in the big city for a wild night….that’s what I thought, 99%.
lbotp // November 28, 2007 at 9:31 am
OSCUV — your point is?
a rejoicing redneck // November 28, 2007 at 12:50 pm
OSCUV - I wonder what it is that you believe C-U should be/look like? And who should patronize which establishments? Just want to make sure that I get it right - I’d hate to rejoice about the wrong thing.
Leeanthro // November 28, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Okay, I’m not getting the point, either.
First, no one ever said anything negative about people from smaller towns coming in town for an evening. I think that thousands and thousands of people who live in the surrounding smaller towns come to C-U to work every day. And they spend their money here and it is GREAT for the local economy.
Second, no one ever said anything negative about said people from smaller towns.
Third, my husband’s friends who he went to Jupiter with over the weekend were people who are now living up north and were in town for the weekend or still leave here.
Go to ANY bar in C-U during Thanksgiving weekend (Tumble Inn is a good example) and it will be filled to the brim with people who escaped and have come back to see their families for the weekend (and thus really need to get out for a drink!).
I doubt that 99% of the people at Jupiter over the weekend were from rural central Illinois. I bet most of them were townies. And by the way, most of the small towns around here are not “tiny farming villages of less than 1000 people.” I know lots of people from small towns and 99% of them don’t farm. And I know lots of farmers, who, by the way, don’t live in towns, but LIVE ON THEIR FARMS.
Guess I just really didn’t get the point of some of the comments. I’m glad there’s a new Jupiter. I’m glad that business was thriving. I’m sure they’ll work out all the kinks. And I’m sure it won’t be as busy once the novelty wears off.
Old School C-U Veteran of Food Wars // November 29, 2007 at 11:54 am
I believe what “Old School C-U Veteran” is trying to say, “I have never done anything in my life and it pains me to see progress of any nature as it only magnifies my own personal failures. I just want to drink beer and smoke cigarettes at the Brass Rail and revel in my misery. Boo-hoo.”
Lisa // November 30, 2007 at 8:13 am
My goodness! This post has provoked some comments!
Anyway, once again, you beat me to a new place. I need to get over there and see this extravaganza. Doesn’t sound like a place I’ll frequent (but then, I don’t frequent ANY place), but still, one needs to check it out. And of course, I love the pizza. The TVs all over the place, not so much, although the fireplace sounds cozy.
Jennifer B. // December 2, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I really shouldn’t have to attempt to elaborate the point because the poster should’ve done it in the first place. But I wonder if the person was trying to make a commentary on how Nietos owns so many bars in town, and how a lot of the new restaurants that are opening in C-U are variations on the same theme. And how even though the places are providing people with a new place to do something…how maybe they aren’t really providing them with something new to do (I know this Jupiter’s has things not seen in other places here, but the principle can still be argued)? And that this can eventually turn a town into a stereotypically “suburban” type area with no culture, no soul, just a town filled with carbon-copy establishments?
The rest of that comment, no idea. That maybe people from smaller surrounding towns should be supporting their own towns instead of going to C-U? I might not agree with that, but the poster does raise some valid points.
Doesn’t really seem to get at the underlying issues behind what might be making his points valid, but at least gives food for thought? I know I’ve certainly been scratching my head while looking at some of the new developments, and wondering why so many of them seem like improved versions of what’s already here. Not complaining, not storming the buildings with molotov cocktails, not going home to cry with a Joy Division LP, just wondering.
And waiting for Desthil. But that’s another story…
Illinois Press Book Blog » Getting to know Champaign-Urbana, Part 1 // January 9, 2008 at 4:03 pm
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lostinlox // March 2, 2008 at 10:34 am
OSCUV……whats your problem with out of towners from small farming towns,if not for them,you wouldnt have half or 3/4’s of your grocerys in your house,or the barley for your beer….and Leeanthro,i just need to correct you on one thing…..ALL of the surrounding “small towns” are farming towns,some smaller then others,but notice onething they ALL have in common,they have a grain elevator,Savoy,Tolono,Pesotum,Sadorus,Ivesdale,Bement,Monticello…all small farming towns!!!
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