Apr 14

Apr 14 Nation's largest BBQ restaurant chain adding a location in Rochester

(THE MED CITY BEAT) - The nation's largest barbecue restaurant chain is expanding to Rochester.

Jeff Kiger of the Post-Bulletin first reported on Tuesday that Dickey's Barbecue Pit plans to open in a 2,00-square-foot space in the new Aspen Dental building near the TJ Maxx Plaza (see map).

Franchise owner Josh Laber tells the paper that he hopes to open the new location by the middle of summer. Laber will retire from the Rochester Police Department this week after nine years of service.

Dickey's recently celebrated its 500th location with an opening in Wauwatosa, Wis., according to a news release. The company has several locations in Minnesota, including a restaurant in Mankato.

Dickey's serves up beef brisket, pulled pork, ham, polish sausage, turkey breast and chicken, with an array of home-style sides from jalapeño beans to macaroni and cheese, notes the company's website. All meats are smoked on site.

Each restaurant also offers complimentary ice cream with each dine-in purchase and free kids meals on Sundays.

The company finished fourth on CNBC's 2015 list of America's Fastest Growing Restaurants. It brought in $426 million in sales last year, a 29 percent increase from 2013.

Fast casual food — like Dickey's, Chipotle and Panera — is the latest trend in America's restaurant industry. The market for fast casual has grown by 500 percent since 1999, more than 10 times the pace of the traditional fast food industry, according to the market research firm Euromonitor.

Note: Location on the map is approximate.