Epic Burger

Epic Burger is an American fast-casual restaurant brand based in Illinois. The chain was founded in 2008 by David Friedman and built its identity around higher-end hamburgers and related casual restaurant fare. Its positioning places it within the premium end of the burger segment rather than the traditional value-oriented fast-food category, although the available reference material does not provide a complete account of its menu architecture, pricing, store design, or sourcing practices. The company remained a regional operator centered in Illinois. In September 2020, David Grossman, who subsequently became the company's chief executive officer, acquired a 51% stake in Epic Burger. This transaction marked a significant ownership change and placed majority control with Grossman. The available sources do not identify the other shareholders or disclose the transaction's financial terms. Epic Burger expanded its regional footprint in 2023 by acquiring Meatheads Burgers & Fries. Rather than maintaining all acquired restaurants under the Meatheads name, the company began converting locations to the Epic Burger brand. The Northbrook location was the first reported conversion, followed by the Naperville location. Once the reported conversion process was completed, the combined Epic Burger network stood at 11 restaurants. The integration was not entirely associated with lasting expansion. In 2025, the Bloomington and Champaign restaurants, both formerly Meatheads locations, closed. These closures reduced the footprint from the 11-restaurant count reported after the conversion process, although the available reference material does not state the chain's exact current number of operating locations. Epic Burger therefore remains an active regional restaurant brand, with its documented operations concentrated in Illinois and its recent history shaped by majority investment, acquisition-led expansion, rebranding, and subsequent location closures.

Epic Burger was established in Illinois in 2008 by David Friedman as a fast-casual restaurant chain focused on higher-end hamburgers and related menu items. The brand developed as a regional operator rather than as a nationally distributed food or restaurant company. Available reference material identifies Illinois as the company's base and describes the business primarily through its restaurant footprint and ownership developments, without providing a detailed account of individual menu launches, advertising campaigns, financial performance, or franchising structure. A major ownership transition occurred in September 2020, when David Grossman acquired a 51% stake in Epic Burger. Grossman subsequently served as chief executive officer. The transaction gave him majority control of the business, but the available source does not report its purchase price, the identity of the other owners, or whether the transaction involved a broader recapitalization. It nevertheless represents an important turning point because later expansion activity occurred under Grossman's leadership. In 2023, Epic Burger expanded through the acquisition of Meatheads Burgers & Fries. The company pursued a brand-conversion strategy rather than simply operating the acquired restaurants under their legacy identity. The Northbrook restaurant was converted to Epic Burger first, with the Naperville location following. When the reported conversion process was completed, Epic Burger's total restaurant count stood at 11. This acquisition and rebranding effort broadened the chain's footprint while consolidating the locations under a single regional brand. The post-acquisition network later contracted. In 2025, the Bloomington and Champaign restaurants—both identified as former Meatheads locations—closed. The closures demonstrate that the acquisition did not result in all acquired sites remaining in operation under the Epic Burger name. The cited material does not explain the reasons for the closures, identify whether additional locations were affected, or state the precise number of restaurants operating afterward. Epic Burger is therefore best characterized as an active, Illinois-centered fast-casual burger brand. Its documented history consists of its 2008 founding, the 2020 majority investment by David Grossman, the 2023 acquisition and conversion of Meatheads locations, and the 2025 closure of two former Meatheads restaurants. More detailed information about its current leadership beyond Grossman, menu development, marketing, financial performance, and store-level operating model is not established by the supplied reference material.

1. 2025Two former Meatheads locations close

   The Bloomington and Champaign restaurants, both formerly operated as Meatheads, closed.

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2. 2023Meatheads Burgers & Fries is acquired

   Epic Burger acquired Meatheads Burgers & Fries and began converting locations to the Epic Burger brand, starting with Northbrook and then Naperville.

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3. 2023Reported restaurant network reaches 11 locations

   After the reported conversion process, Epic Burger's restaurant count stood at 11 locations.

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4. 2020Majority stake changes hands

   David Grossman acquired a 51% stake in Epic Burger in September 2020 and later became chief executive officer.

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5. 2008Epic Burger is founded

   David Friedman founded Epic Burger in Illinois as a fast-casual chain centered on higher-end hamburgers and related menu items.

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A regional fast-casual burger chain positioned around higher-end hamburgers and related menu items.

• Epic Burger hamburgersHamburgers2008

  The brand's core offering is a range of higher-end hamburgers served through a fast-casual restaurant format. The supplied reference identifies premium hamburgers as the central product category but does not provide verified details about specific recipes, ingredients, sizes, toppings, or nutritional attributes.

• Related menu itemsFast-casual restaurant menu2008

  Epic Burger also sells other menu items associated with its hamburger-focused restaurant concept. The available source does not enumerate the items or establish which products are currently available across the chain.

• 2023Acquisition and conversion of Meatheads restaurantsM&A

  Epic Burger sought to expand its regional restaurant footprint through the purchase of Meatheads Burgers & Fries.

  What changed. The company acquired Meatheads and began converting its locations to the Epic Burger brand, with Northbrook converted first and Naperville afterward.

  Aftermath. The reported conversion process brought the Epic Burger network to 11 restaurants, although two former Meatheads locations later closed in 2025.

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• 2020David Grossman takes majority ownershipM&A

  Epic Burger underwent an ownership change in September 2020 as the chain continued operating as an Illinois-based fast-casual restaurant business.

  What changed. David Grossman acquired a 51% stake in the company and subsequently served as chief executive officer.

  Aftermath. The transaction established Grossman as the company's majority owner. The purchase price and other transaction terms were not reported in the cited material.

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• 2025Former Meatheads locations in Bloomington and Champaign close

  The Bloomington and Champaign restaurants, both formerly operated as Meatheads locations, closed after Epic Burger's acquisition and conversion program.

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• 2023Epic Burger acquires Meatheads Burgers & Fries

  Epic Burger bought Meatheads Burgers & Fries and began converting the acquired restaurants to the Epic Burger brand. Northbrook was converted first, followed by Naperville, and the reported network reached 11 restaurants after the conversion process.

  M&A
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• 2020David Grossman acquires majority stake in Epic Burger

  In September 2020, David Grossman acquired a 51% stake in Epic Burger and later served as the company's chief executive officer. The financial terms and the identity of the remaining shareholders were not disclosed in the cited reference.

  M&ALeadership change
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1. Epic Burger