"Cousin Eddie" comes to Fairhills Mall

The former Arby's restaurant in Fairhills Mall is slated to open as a bar and grill with a “Cousin Eddie” theme.

Cousin Eddie's Bar & Grill is the creation of Will Hoecker, who also owns Springfield’s two Brickhouse Grill & Pub locations. He said the sports bar is slated to open in late August or early September.

Cousin Eddie is the naive, moronic character played by actor Randy Quaid in a series of “Vacation” movies.

“There’s nothing over here,” he said, referring to the handful of bars and restaurants around the mall at Chatham Road and Monroe Street. Mall parking also is a plus, he noted.

An awning is being added to the south side of the building to create a beer garden. The interior will have 25 TVs, a granite bar and a decor sporting references to the “Vacation” movies.

“We want it to be a fun atmosphere,” Hoecker said.

On the menu will be pub food, including burgers, chicken strips, wedge salads and chili. The business is expected to be open seven days a week.

“Save the neck for me, Clark,” was one of Cousin Eddie’s more memorable lines in “Christmas Vacation,” as the extended family waited for Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) to cut into the holiday turkey.

For more local restaurant news, read the A La Carte column in Sunday's SJ-R.