Dave Beauchamp, the owner of Champ’s Pub, has been running his restaurant in Brighton a long time. A really long time.
He’s been there longer than the roundabouts, longer than the Tridge, longer than the Ugly Naked Guy.
Dave Beauchamp was in Brighton when the Pink Hotel was actually pink, when the Brighton Argus was actually a newspaper and when the Brighton Mall was actually a mall.
Dave Beauchamp has been the owner of Champ’s Pub since September of 1981, more than 41 years ago. And it all comes to an end on New Year’s Eve.
Beauchamp has sold his restaurant to Win Dahm (who owns several other restaurants in Livingston County, including the Log Cabin Inn and 2FOGS Pub in Howell), and his last day behind the bar will be Dec. 31.
Dahm is obviously not a stupid man, so he’s going to keep the name and keep the menu. You don’t mess with success. The restaurant will still be called Champ’s Pub and it will still serve the best damn burgers in the world. The iconic sign outside will still have Dave Beauchamp’s name and likeness on it, including the most famous mustache in Livingston County history.
It will still be Champ’s Pub, but Champ won’t be inside anymore. At the age of 75, he’s calling it quits.
As far as I can tell, this news has come quietly and without any fanfare. There’s been nothing posted on the Champ’s Pub website or Facebook page. No story in the newspaper. The only mention I could find was an item buried in a WHMI story.
I’m guessing Dave wanted this to happen without much fuss, but considering everything this guy has meant to Brighton, there should be parades and speeches and legislative tributes flowing on Saturday. It’s hard to think of a more iconic Brighton business owner – and Dave has done SO MUCH to help this community through the years.
This shouldn’t be passing without notice. Everybody should be stopping by on Saturday to say thank you to Dave Beauchamp. He’s had one hell of a legendary run, and he’s given back to the community every chance he’s had. It’s local business owners that make a downtown tick, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who has done more than Dave over the past four decades.
And although he’s been the one making the burgers all these years (along with whatever other wonderful cooks he’s had on staff), I’m going to go ahead and claim part of the success that Champ’s Pub has enjoyed.
Back in 1988, you see, when I was the crusading young editor of the Brighton Argus and Livingston County Press, I came up with the idea that the newspaper needed to sponsor a Restaurant Poll. I came up with a few categories (Best Overall Restaurant, Best Breakfast Restaurant, Best Sandwiches, etc.) and invited the public to vote. I had no clue what would become of the Restaurant Poll, but it was an immediate hit.
The winner of the Best Burgers category that first year was Champ’s Pub. And for the next 20-some years – EVERY DAMN YEAR – the winner was Champ’s Pub. The newspaper eventually stopped doing the poll and the Livingston Post started doing one, and Champ’s just kept on winning.
And ever since 1988, they’ve been using that “Voted Best Burgers in Livingston County” deal in their advertising. Along with Dave’s handlebar ‘stache, it’s been their calling card.
So that’s why I’m claiming some credit here. If I hadn’t started the Restaurant Poll way back in 1988, Champ’s Pub never would have been voted anything. Yes, indeed – I’m a truly great man.
But enough about me. This is about Dave Beauchamp, and the remarkable run he’s had in this town. Back in 2019, there was a Facebook post on the Champ’s Pub page that estimated they had served 1.4 million burgers through the years. That number has to be well over 1.5 million now.
And while it’s refreshing to know that number will continue to climb after Friday (thank you, Win Dahm), it’s sad that Dave won’t be the guy making them.
If anyone has earned a great retirement, though, it’s Dave Beauchamp. Enjoy yourself and have a blast, my friend.
