'Champ' hands reins of longtime Brighton pub to new owner
A longtime Brighton pub owner with an iconic handlebar mustache is retiring, and a familiar face in the local restaurant scene will take over the well-known hangout on Grand River Avenue.
Dave "Champ" Beauchamp has sold Champ's Pub, which he founded in 1981, to restaurateur Winfred Dahm.
New Year's Eve will be Beauchamp's last day working at the downtown Brighton pub.
"I have mixed emotions," he said. "Obviously, it’s been a long time, but it’s time."
He said he is looking forward to having more free time, traveling and spending more time at his and his wife Norma's second home on a beach in Port Huron.
He said he will miss being deeply involved in the Brighton community.
"I've always like being involved in the chamber and the city," he said. "I was on the DDA until a month ago for 15 years or so. I've enjoyed knowing what's going on in town. Brighton has been a great town to do business in."
He said the pub is known for good burgers and brews, among other menu items.
"If you serve good quality food and have a good atmosphere, it’s worked for all these years," he said.
When he and his wife opened the pub in 1981, Brighton was "extremely different," he said. "There was only like six or eight places you could get a drink and some food in Brighton back then."
The pub location was originally a local blacksmith’s shop and later became The Marine Bar, according to the the business' website.
Before opening the pub, Beauchamp was in the sporting goods business. He owned the Ann Arbor ski shop called The Peak until it closed in 1979.
He said the pub was the first downtown Brighton business to establish a sidewalk cafe for outdoor dining, which was added in 1992.
No changes planned
Beauchamp said customers have been asking whether the pub will change under new ownership.
"He'll keep it the same," he said.
Dahm, who is a co-owner of several other restaurants, does not have any plans to change the pub's look, menu or staff, Beauchamp said.
Earlier this year, Dahm and Chris Stone reopened Log Cabin, a longtime Genoa Township tavern, with a new look, menu and live music.
They also operate the New Hudson Inn, which also hosts live music, and they took over ownership of downtown Howell tavern 2FOG's Pub along with partner Holly Fletcher in 2020. They opened 2FOG's Golf in a space above the pub earlier this year.
The group also has plans to construct a two-story honky tonk on the former Wrangler's Saloon property in Howell Township.
'A foundational person'
Pamela McConeghy, president and CEO of the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, said Beauchamp has been an active member of the chamber and Brighton Downtown Development Authority, of which she is also a member.
"I’ve known Dave since I started at the chamber 22 years ago," McConeghy said. "He had been really active in the chamber, just a foundational person we loved and a wonderful, generous man."
She said she is glad the pub will continue.
"We love Champ’s hamburgers. We love Champ’s food. I’m really glad it’s staying the same as it had been with the new company," she said. "It’s going to remain one of those pillars in the community."
She said she suspects Beauchamp will remain a part of the community.
"He's a community person and he’s worked in Brighton so long. I know we haven’t seen the last of him," she said.
Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: 'Champ' hands reins of longtime Brighton pub to new owner
