The Man Behind the Name

For 22 years, Bill and Keala ran The Corner Bar at 1501 Washington Ave S -- a place that became the living room for Vikings fans, U of M students, Augsburg crowds, and anyone who loved good wings, cold beer, and a game on screen. The Corner Bar was home to 20+ beers on tap, 18 TVs, NFL Sunday Ticket, every UFC fight, and one of the best lunch buffets on Washington Avenue. And it was home to something else: the Joey Wings, a recipe Bill spent years perfecting -- seasoned, oven-baked, fried, and hand tossed, available in 9 signature sauces. Those wings became the reason regulars came back every week.

It was also home to the Comedy Corner Underground -- a legendary "weird little punk rock comedy club" in the basement that launched careers for comedians like Chloe Radcliffe, Jeff Pfoser, and even hosted underplay gigs from stars like Nick Swardson and SNL's Michael Che. That little basement stage birthed the 10,000 Laughs Comedy Festival, now one of the biggest comedy events in the Midwest. The Comedy Corner Underground lives on at its new home -- check it out.

In 2020, Bill was hit with every blow at once -- COVID shut down his revenue, social unrest shook the neighborhood, and a fire destroyed a good part of the bar. The community rallied, raising tens of thousands of dollars, and Bill rebuilt. When the building was sold in 2025 and no new lease was offered, The Corner Bar closed on August 24th after a legendary 22-year run.

Bill's wife Keala was a part of The Corner Bar from day one, and she'll be right here at Fathead Bill's helping bring this new concept to life. Together, the two of them are building something special at 903 Washington Avenue -- a true family affair. And you might spot another Murray on site from time to time -- their son Kason, 8 years old and already learning the ropes.

Fathead Bill's is the next chapter: an elevated sports pub experience at 903 Washington Avenue in East Town Minneapolis, half a block from US Bank Stadium and one block from The Guthrie Theater. The scratch kitchen serves the full lineup, including the Joey Wings in all 9 sauces, the FatHead Classic Smash and Bacon Jam Smash burgers built on 3 oz chuck brisket patties, Firecracker Shrimp, and Sauteed Steak Bites. On the drinks side: craft cocktails and 16 taps of local Minnesota craft beer, always cold, always rotating.

If you were a regular at The Corner Bar, you'll see some familiar faces here at Fathead Bill's. We're all eager to be back, doing what we love: serving great food, pouring cold drinks, and bringing this community together again. Same heart, same family, bigger vision. Come find us at 903 Washington Avenue, opening June 13th, 2026.