Over the years, new restaurants came to 305 N. Veterans Parkway with some regularity - because other restaurants kept dying there.

Situated between Cub Foods and the beltway, the property commonly was referred to as the Bombay Bicycle Club site. Many people in town haven't been around long enough to have experienced Bombay Bicycle Club, and from the sound of it, not enough people ate at the address, period.

Over the years, it was the home of Oriental Buffet & Grill, Prescott's and the Wildcat Brewery Co.

Finally, the structure was razed. In its place is a strip center called The Shops at Veterans Parkway, and it provides the spot for three restaurants opened near year's end: Noodles & Co., Chipotle Mexican Grill and Meat Heads. The first two are chains. The third aspires to become one.

Making chains

A theme may be developing in town, with Meat Heads as an example. The Twin Cities, noted for its abundance of chain restaurants, can be the site to start a chain.

The concept of Meat Heads is to be the antithesis of vegetarianism, with high-quality burgers and from-scratch fries. It celebrates carnivorous activity with a menu that offers a choice: Hamburger or Nottaburger (foot-long hotdogs and a grilled cheese sandwich). Owners are tinkering now with their creation and gauging customer response before committing to expansion and chain development.

Beyond Meat Heads, consider:

• Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works announced a second location, in Champaign, even before opening the door on Thanksgiving weekend at the first Destihl, at the Shoppes at College Hills in Normal. Destihl combines gourmet cooking with brews made on location. Destihl takes some of its management from Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano.

• Biaggi's opened as a single restaurant in east Bloomington in 1999. The emerging chain had 18 other locations in February when CEO Todd Hovenden told the Pantagraph he foresees the business growing to 60 locations.

• Less recently, a little hamburger shop opened on Main Street in Normal. The 1934 creation was the first Steak 'n Shake. The chain has about 500 restaurants now.

The year in openings

Here are some of the other openings in the year in Eats and restaurant news.

Subcontinent's pizza: The business news contained an abundance of restaurant openings, especially as the year ended. But the most unusual new restaurant, for here, probably is Puran Pizza, which opened in spring next to Puran Indian Restaurant at 1704 Eastland Drive, Bloomington. It gives an Indian take on pizza (subcontinent Indian, not Native American).

Comebacks: After a 51-year absence, Maid-Rite returned to the Twin Cities with a spot on Main Street across from the Illinois State University football stadium. At the Shoppes at College Hills, Michael Ponzo Jr., wife Bridget and Michael Sr. opened Paisano's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, patterned after a Chicago restaurant that the elder Ponzo ran during his son's childhood.

Bandana's Bar-B-Q, 503 IAA Drive, Bloomington, tanked under a locally run franchise but announced a January 2008 return as a corporation-run location. Boo Boo's Dawghouse shuttered both of its Twin Cities locations but reopened in downtown Bloomington, at Main and Washington. The Patriot Restaurant in Minonk closed but then reopened under new ownership as The Patriot Diner.

Not just a bar: Entourage Lounge opened at 909 N. Hershey Road, just south of Empire Street, Bloomington, with a distinguished menu, often eaten tapas style.

Was just a bar: Lucky Ace's Restaurant & Bar, 202 E. Center St., LeRoy, started doing dinner, plus Saturday lunch, near the end of the year. David Novitski is proprietor.

Not a sports pub: J. Buck's Restaurant opened near the airport next to Buffalo Wild Wings with a Buck family broadcasters' theme. It is high-end sporty with a fairly formal dining atmosphere. The TV watching is limited to the bar area.

Was a bank: LeRoy and Danvers got new restaurants in former banks - The New Old Bank Inn and The Vault, respectively.

Has a "Wall of Flame": Wings Etc., which opened this year at 511 Chancellor Drive, Bloomington, off Hershey Road, covers a wall with photos of customers daring enough to eat 16 habanero-coated chicken wings without liquids or other food.

Sounds peaceful: The Olive Branch opened on Delaney Drive, off Interstate 39, in El Paso.

Danke schön: John Candler brought a Bavarian and American restaurant to 111 S. Main Ave., Minier. It recently started offering lunch in addition to dinner.

New, with combinations:

• Spice Express combines Indian grocery with restaurant service at Lakewood Plaza, Veterans at Clearwater, Bloomington.

• In Pontiac, Kristy's Candy Land, 101 W. Madison St., combines locally made candy with soups, sandwiches and salads.

• Carl's Ice Cream, a hot-weather institution in Bloomington, brought us year-round indoor ice cream, along with a food menu, at a second location, 1700 W. College Ave., Normal. Mr. D's Soft Serve Ice Cream in Danvers went from seasonal to year-round food and ice cream.

• In Fairbury, John Strong kept his Pizza by Marchelloni at 1005 W. Oak St. while opening a Mexican eatery, Taco Palace, in the same building.

• Peggy Payne opened Peggy's Place, an everything's-from-scratch breakfast and lunch spot at 110 Clinton St., Lincoln. It doubles as a bakery.