Opie's Bar & Grill celebrates anniversary

By Mike Trueblood

Published in The Burg on Dec. 5, 2024

On November 17, Opie's Bar & Grill enjoyed its second anniversary and Opie Carter says the challenges typically faced by a new business haven't been overwhelming. 

"It's been good. I can't complain, said the 27-year old owner of Opie's, located at 158 North Broad Street 

"It wasn't that bad. It was a lot smoother than I expected. I have a good staff and that made it easy for us."

Even at a young age, Carter didn't lack experience in the bar and restaurant business.

"I grew up with my parents at The Watering Hole and just stayed with it," she said.

She worked at The Watering Hole at Oak Run and managed Sidetrax in Galesburg by the age of 21.

Her parents Jim and Carolyn continue to provide strong support, helping out at Opie's. Along with The Watering Hole, Jim formerly managed  Cherry Street Brewing Company in Galesburg, where her parents met.

Opie's - in the building previously occupied by Fat Fish Pub and before that Midwest Photo - calls itself a casual restaurant with a wide drink menu from the bar offering comfort food and TV sports.

"All our menu is fresh food - not frozen - and all our appetizers are made in-house," said Carter. "We have a nice cocktail menu that people come in for."

She added, "We have a nice group of regulars and get a lot of out-of-towners."

Perhaps Opie's signature dish is its scorpion tails, an appetizer of bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with provolone and jalapenos and fried.

But Carter says her tenderloins, specialty burgers and mac and cheese bites are popular, too. The mac and cheese bites are made from scratch. 

The menu includes soups, salads and offers a kids menu.

Opie changes her menu every six months from spring/summer to fall/winter.

Opie's also features a gaming room with video gambling machines, offers a side room rental for groups up to 30 and a rear game room which features Skee Ball, Foosball and Shuffle Ball.

Carter says her establishment is a Bears Bar on Sundays "until they start to lose" and also considers it a University of Illinois bar on Saturdays. It also regularly offers live music. 

Opie's kitchen is open 11 am. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday - the bar stays open longer - and is closed Wednesdays. It can be found on Facebook and Instagram and reached by phone at (309) 315-2112.