A tourist accidentally stumbling across Chill Sports Bar & Grill while walking down Main Street could possibly guess that he or she had found a Grapevine jewel. Clues include a historical plaque on the front of the building, the nearby downtown shops and Chill’s location near the vintage railroad operations.

The tourist would no longer be guessing after he or she sampled some of Chill’s award-winning food or danced the night away to a spinning DJ. Yet despite the location and history, a renovation two years ago was needed to establish Chill as part of the fabric of Grapevine’s social life.

Don Payne, who bought Chill in 2010, worked with his management team to make changes.

“We decided to give it a more upbeat look, give it a little more family-oriented atmosphere,” says Director of Business Operations Julia Sizemore. “The old Chill was a little dull, a little dark and didn’t have much personality. We wanted everybody to know we were here.”

Already having a patio and a private party room, Payne added a VIP area, a DJ booth and additional lighting to brighten the restaurant. Live music is featured at 10 p.m. on Wednesday-Saturday each week. Chill also started a catering business, adding Jeff Costa as executive chef. Sunday brunch, from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and featuring 99 cent mimosas, proved to be popular according to Sizemore.

Sizemore said Chill is anything but left out when it comes to Grapevine happenings, recently catering events at City Hall and a recreation center.

“We have the best patio in downtown Grapevine and some of the best food in all of Grapevine,” Sizemore said. “Our bacon-wrapped shrimp won Taste of Grapevine awards multiple times.”

Not only is the food good, but there is often also a special available. There is a different $5.99 lunch special each day plus a happy hour. In addition, other specials are often available. On Monday, for example, pizzas are half-price all day long, and tacos are $1 after 3 p.m. on Tuesdays.

“We not only want to do great food, but we want to do it at great value,” Sizemore said.

“We wanted a presence in Grapevine that we didn’t really have,” Sizemore said. “We wanted to let everybody know we are here.”

“We are very passionate about being a great place not only for Grapevine residents, but tourists as well,” she said. “It has worked out really well for us.”