Barbecue Restaurant to Open Downtown in November

Smokey Barque, the new smokehouse barbecue restaurant set to move in to 's Kansas Street location, plans to open its doors in mid-November, the owner said Thursday.

Tommy Ridings, a Frankfort resident of 17 years and owner of Smokey Barque, said he hopes to start doing work at 20 Kansas St. starting Nov. 1, and then open for business some time between Nov. 5 and 15. A grand opening, however, won't happen until May of next year, Ridings added.

On Thursday, unanimously recommended the restaurant's request for a liquor license. The request will go before the Village Board for final approval at its meeting Monday, Oct. 17.

Opening a barbecue restaurant has been a passion for about two years Ridings, who has previously owned Rosati's Pizza restaurants in Tinley Park and Orland Park. In fact, he's been testing out potential barbecue recipes and dishes on the rest of his family for some time, said his wife, Mary Ann.

"We plan to have a very pro-family, pro-neighborhood establishment," Ridings told the commission. "We look forward to being here a long time."

The Kansas Street location is opening up because , setting up shop in the kitchen of . The steakhouse will be moving there later this month.