MAHOMET – First Fruits Produce in Mahomet plans to close its store by the end of the month, and in its place will be a Junior's Burgers & Custard restaurant.

First Fruits, at 101 N. Lombard St., near Main Street and Illinois 47, has sold locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as baked goods and health and nutritional items at the store. The Junior's restaurant will be the second location for the Champaign burger joint.

First Fruits opened its store on Lombard Street in 2007 after selling produce and meat from a small store on its farm off Illinois 47. Produce will likely be sold on the farm again, said Nancy Asbill, who ran First Fruits with her husband, Burt Asbill.

"We've had 12 years of working with customers, and we really have always enjoyed the different ones we've met over the years. Now it's on to a new phase," Asbill said.

Asbill, a licensed real estate agent, said she will focus on a career in real estate. Her husband, a minister, will continue to be involved in church activities. Their church is Living Word Omega Message, which owns the farmland off Illinois 47.

"The farm is still alive," Asbill said. Friends of their family – Pavlina Davis and Wesley Schell – will be managing the operation. The new name is Omega Farm, Davis said.

Information about the farm can be found online or by calling 224-612-2507.

As for the new Junior's restaurant, owner Rich "Junior" Minick, who runs the business with his father, Rick Minick, said ever since he moved to Mahomet about three years ago, people have been asking him when he would open the restaurant in Mahomet.

Junior's started in Campustown in 2005, then moved to its current location, 1511 W. Springfield Ave., C, in 2006 when it also bought the Cozy's portion of the business.