Our Story

The Urban Grill was established in May 2002 by Skip Bachman, a veteran of the restaurant industry with more than thirty years of experience. Skip got his start in the bar business in the mid-1970s and went on to found and own several local favorites, including Skip's, Francie's, Nick's Bar and Grill, and The Urban Grill.

Construction began in November 2001 on a former Hardee's location and was completed by Dave Thompson's construction company. Skip and Dave were longtime friends and collaborators, having worked together on a number of projects over the years. Dave became the general manager of The Urban Grill in 2005. Dave purchased The Urban Grill from Skip in October 2013.

In 2026, Matt Thompson bought The Urban Grill from his Uncle Dave Thompson, allowing Dave to step back and focus on his restaurants in Winterset, IA. Today, Matt and his wife, Nicole Thompson, lead the restaurant together, honoring the family legacy that has defined The Urban Grill from the very beginning.