URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — In a few months, people in downtown Urbana will see a familiar space, but with a new look.

The Broadway Food Hall is reopening as The Yard on Broadway.

The building has been without management since 2022 and restaurants have been slowly closing since.

Drew Smith, the owner of Smith Burger Company, is hoping to revive the building and says this is the perfect time. This will be their second brick and mortar location in Champaign-Urbana. But, he said he’s excited to bring more than just his food to downtown.

Like many businesses, the Broadway Food Hall in Urbana fell on hard times around 2020.

“I’ve always liked the concept here that the previous owner started up and then COVID kind of slowed it down,” Smith said.

But, the unique idea the building represented still intrigued him.

“Honestly, it’s kind of been on my radar for quite a while,” Smith said. “I think I’d say within the last eight months or so, we’ve really been pursuing this opportunity.”

Last December, he bought it. The other stores will be Fernado’s tacos, Columbia Street Roastery and Watson’s Shack and Rail.

“I didn’t think we would be here starting it as kind of a part time gig, and then this just kind of took off,” Smith said. “The community has been behind us 100%. It’s been great to see.” Smith said.

He’s hopeful the support will continue on to The Yard at Broadway and thinks this expansion is a piece of a much larger puzzle.

“It’s been great to see the county plaza getting ready to open up, you know, 250 plus employees all in one spot, H-Mart opening up,” Smith added.

One restaurant has stayed open through all the ups and downs of Broadway Food Hall. Les Gourmets has been serving Congolese food since 2022 and has been the only restaurant at the location for about a year.

They said business has been fine, but they’re excited to see the building revived.

“We want be seeing more of the people coming back again,” said Les Gourmets Manager Christelle Muanza.

And she believes they will.

“American people, by seeing that Congolese is also there, they’ll be like, we want to try,” she added.

Smith expects The Yard At Broadway to be open in a few months when renovations are done.