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A party in your mouth- that's how one first-time customer described a hamburger from Junior's, Champaign's newest burger and shake joint.

Steak 'n who? Thickburger what? Located at 502 E. John Street, Junior's opened June 26 and has been building a strong clientele since. Their specialty? Hand-grilled, mouth-watering "party in your mouth" hamburgers. From cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes to ice-cream cones and french fries, Junior's classic, good ol' American menu has already attracted a loyal following across Campustown.

Running a hamburger restaurant is not always what Rich Minick Jr., who co-owns the restaurant with his father, Rick Minick, imagined himself doing as a career. After graduating from Southern Illinois University in 2000, Minick was soon married and living in downtown Chicago. Fifteen months passed when Minick and his wife realized Chicago was not the best fit for the couple's lifestyle.

"We didn't want to have a baby in the city, so I found a job working for Carle Clinic and moved back here," Minick said.

Three years later, after having a baby daughter and gaining some unexpected weight while working his desk job, Minick decided a career change was in the cards.

"I thought, 'I can't do this anymore,'" Minick said. "I have to do something where I can be the person making the decisions."

Minick teamed up to do business with his father, who at the time owned a lock shop, a landscaping company and several real-estate developments. Almost eight months later the two decided to engage in another small business conquest, one they had always dreamed of, opening a small hamburger restaurant.

According to students and customers, Junior's Burgers & Shakes provides another food option since Panera's relocation from John Street to Neil Street, across from Marketplace Mall. Nearby John Street businesses, such as Insomnia Cookies and Tasti D-Lite, do not intimidate Minick. He even views them as assets to his new business.

"A lot of people have said they come in, get a hamburger, french fries and drink then they go next door to get a cookie for the walk home," Minick said. "We even talked to the owner [of Insomnia Cookies] about doing some cooperative advertising. Having them here helps us too."

The "walk home" often occurs at the wee hours of the morning, after students have hit the bars and are looking for a late-night snack. Junior's employee Jake Martin, a junior at the University, noted that the bar crowd provides a powerful source of business. Junior's satisfies those night owls by adhering to no specific closing time Thursday through Saturday.

"The bar scene at night, with CO's and Kam's being right over there, is a wonderful crowd to get," Martin said.

Minick appreciates the business and is amused by certain late-night customers. One rather memorable visit, Minick recalled, involved a girl and her boyfriend who finished their night at the bars with a quick, and cheap, grilled cheese sandwich.

"They had been partaking in the alcoholic beverages," Minick said, laughing. "It was probably 10 till 3 and they just came in and started talking and talking and talking, asking, 'what can I get for a quarter?'"

Minick finally agreed to make the antsy young woman a grilled cheese sandwich for a quarter.

It is no wonder Junior's has attracted a large customer base of students, considering the Campustown location and University decor. The bright blue and orange walls and sports memorabilia liven up the interior of the restaurant. A 2004-05 signed Illinois basketball team poster, an Illini clock and even a signed Dick Butkus photo adorn the colorful walls. The combination of tasty burgers, a great location and friendly staff makes for happy customers.

University employees Randy Harshbarger and Mark Warner have eaten at Junior's during their lunch break nearly a dozen times since its opening in June.

"I think Junior's is a really good hamburger joint. It's fast food but it doesn't taste like fast food, like Hardee's or some other place like that," Warner said.

Harshbarger reports that the menu item that keeps him coming back is the strawberry shakes.

Jill Guth, Director of Development at JSM Management, Inc., said the company has confidence in thier new tenant.

"This is a father and son's dream to work together. They are filling a unique niche in campus town- a carryout hamburger joint...I feel it is one of the best hamburgers in Champaign-Urbana," Guth said. "We feel they have a great product and hope the community will embrace their friendly restaurant."

Martin, who works the Saturday night shift every week, relies on friendliness and a courteous staff to keep customers satisfied.

"As Junior's progresses, more and more people will come in and I'll be able to say 'hi' to them by name," Martin said, who works alongside his roommate at the restaurant.

"I love working here."

But can Junior's Burgers & Shakes make that progress? With a string of new food chains opening nearby within the past year, such as Potbelly's, Noodles and Company and Antonio's Pizza, the food industry competition is fierce.

"Junior's has invested a lot of money, sweat and energy into the development of the restaurant. Rick is a great person who cares deeply for the University and looks forward to growing his business in our community," Guth said. "We want Campustown to be successful!"

Daily specials are also an idea in the making. On certain days of the week customers will be able to buy $1 shakes or upgrade their single hamburger to a double for a small price. Students are not the only group Minick wishes to attract, however.

"I want this place to be something that's not only for the students but everybody else," Minick said.

Minick is already looking to the future. He hopes to open another location in the Champaign-Urbana area. Minick would like to incorporate a drive-thru in the second Junior's restaurant. From there, he plans on moving the business to other college campuses. Right now he is looking at locations at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, both located in Bloomington-Normal, and possibly Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. A large campus is what Junior's will thrive on, Minick said.

Food suppliers have approached Minick about expanding the existing simple menu with a wider variety of sandwiches. But Minick has faith in the simple formula of a quality hamburger.

"I don't want to have a wide array of products," he said.

"I want people to come in here for the hamburger!"