Brothers open 'breakfast pub'

Brothers Stephen and Shawn Washburn this month opened Early Bird Breakfast Pub after years of combined experience working in the Springfield restaurant scene.

“We always wanted to open a restaurant and bar, and we’ve always liked breakfast, so eventually we thought, ‘Well, we could do a breakfast bar,” Stephen Washburn said.

The venture, which launched March 1 at 1717 E. Cherokee St., has a bar serving beer and spirits open during normal business hours, a menu of standard breakfast fare items, including pancakes and omelets, and lunch.

“It’s different than most things you would see anywhere else,” Washburn said.

He said the co-owners spent roughly $80,000 on startup costs for the establishment, which seats 100 people indoors and another 40 on an outdoor patio.

The brothers lease the 3,000-square-foot space, formerly occupied by Twilight Grille, from J. Haik Properties LLC for undisclosed terms. Washburn said they signed a three-year lease.

“We don’t plan on going anywhere soon,” he said.