CHAMPAIGN – Ron Hitch thinks he's found a new use for what was once the world's largest Dog n Suds restaurant.

The building, standing empty on Champaign's Town Center Boulevard since 2001, was recently purchased by Hitch, whose family operates Balloon Creations in Urbana.

Hitch said he and his son, Jason, plan to open a new restaurant there called Jason's Balloons & Spoons. The restaurant will serve, among other things, ice cream and cake, with the goal of being a destination for children's parties.

"We're going for a Chuck E. Cheese/Jupiter's mentality," a place popular with children and families, Hitch said. He expects to offer electronic games and to cordon off an area for private parties, he added.

The northwest corner of the 5,800-square-foot building will be sectioned off as a second location for Balloon Creations, which sells balloons and flowers, he added.

The restaurant will offer more than just desserts, Hitch said. The menu is expected to include barbecue, pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as sandwich, soup and salad combos. He also expects to have a children's menu, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Hitch said he wants to preserve much of the space-age atmosphere of the Dog n Suds building, but will likely install drop ceilings in an effort to cut heating costs.

Customers won't be able to drive up and park for curb-side service as they did at Dog n Suds, Hitch said, but he does plan to offer a drive-through on the building's east side.

Hitch said the restaurant also has a back room that can accommodate groups of up to 48 people, and he hopes to attract groups ranging from bridge clubs to classic car clubs to use it.

Although the back room should be relatively quiet, the rest of the restaurant is expected to have "a party atmosphere," he said.

"If you want quiet dining, this is probably not the place to be," he said.

The restaurant's opening is probably a month or so away, he added.

Hitch is no stranger to the Champaign-Urbana business community, having operated a number of firms here.

Among his early ventures were: Sweetdaddy's, a doughnut shop in Campustown; The Cookie Jar, which sold cookies; and American National Frank, which served Chicago-style hot dogs and beer. He also operated Impressions, a T-shirt shop, and Pampered Pet, a pet-grooming business that he sold earlier this year.

Balloon Creations was established about 26 years ago, and the Hitch family acquired it about five years ago.

Hitch said he had been looking in the North Prospect area for a second location for Balloon Creations, but had a difficult time finding anything renting for less than $24 to $25 per square foot.

He happened to go to Menards for a light switch and noticed the "for sale" sign at Dog n Suds. He inquired about the property last spring, made an offer and acquired it Oct. 1, he said.

Hitch said he expects 16 to 20 people to work there. The food manager will be Joe Rodriguez, who Hitch said has 15 years of experience in the barbecue business.

Dog n Suds was a popular chain, based in Champaign, throughout the 1950s, '60s and '70s. At one time, it had about 600 locations nationwide.

The chain enjoyed a revival about a decade ago, and the location at 608 W. Town Center Blvd. was a franchise store that opened in 2000 and closed the following year. Today, about 17 Dog n Suds drive-ins continue to operate throughout the Midwest, including one in Charleston, according to the chain's Web site, www.dog-n-suds.com.