After 15 years as one of Champaign’s prominent sports bars and billiards joints, Jillian’s has closed.
Employees got word on Sunday and by the end of the day Jillian’s had shut its doors for good. The “Champaign” link on the corporate website now leads to a blank page.
Jillian’s — a 20,000-square-foot space featuring pool tables, games and large TVs — was located at 1201 S. Neil Street, west of Memorial Stadium.
Though Jillian’s saw heavy traffic before and after University of Illinois sporting events and on Sundays during the NFL season, the flow of customers had slowed in recent years.
According to Tyler Warfield, president of pool sharks that have regularly hunkered down at Jillian’s will have to find new venues to haunt. Fortunately for pool players and sports junkies alike, Champaign-Urbana has no short supply of places to grab a drink, watch a game and shoot some stick.