After a series of restaurant openings and closures in Orange County over the last several years, Texas-based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is coming on strong in another attempt to grow in Southern California.
Earlier this year, locations in Brea and Laguna Niguel closed due to unforeseen circumstances, the chain said. Dickey’s specializes in slow-smoked barbecue served in a fast-casual setting. This month, the chain announced plans to step up its Southern California expansion through franchising.
Developer PK Group is opening locations in Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Cerritos, Lakewood and Yorba Linda. Huntington Beach is slated to open in early 2017, followed by Costa Mesa late next year.
The chain’s history in Southern California has been spotty.
The fast-casual chain exited Orange County seven years ago after trying to expand here with locations in Irvine and Huntington Beach. A few years ago, Dickey’s resurrected with stores popping up again.
Orange County is now home to a handful of locations with restaurants in Lake Forest, Buena Park, Fullerton, Ladera Ranch, Tustin and Irvine. Another location is slated for Rancho Santa Margarita.
Throughout Southern California locations have opened in Whittier, Encino, Duarte, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, Woodland Hills, San Dimas, Pomona, Santa Clarita, Chino, Simi Valley, Montclair, Westlake Village, Rancho Cucamonga, Palmdale, Eastvale, Corona, Lancaster, Fontana, Riverside, Ventura, Victorville, Lake Elsinore, Highland, Temecula, and Duarte.
After Texas, California has the most Dickey’s locations with new stores opening weekly, Dickey’s Chief Executive Roland Dickey Jr. said in a statement.
When asked why locations have come and gone in Orange County, Dickey’s declined to specifically address the reasons. In a statement to the Register, Dickey’s Senior Vice President of Development Trinity Hall called the growth in California, now at more than 100, “very successful.”
“We are very excited about the significant expansion we have had and continue to have in California and all across the U.S.,” Hall said.
The Dickey’s Orange County comeback doesn’t stop with PK Group.
The chain said multi-unit operator Tom Gomez has purchased the shuttered Laguna Niguel and Brea locations.
“We are very excited to have this team of people open two more phenomenal locations. We’ve had many guests inquire about the reopening date, which will happen over the next several weeks to a month,” Hall said.
Hall said Dickey’s restaurants will continue to slow cook its meats daily. However, a menu change is expected soon.
“We are however, undergoing a system-wide menu update with an exciting new variety of additional menu items such as tacos and sandwiches while still offering the same core menu favorites and savory sides,” Hall said.
Dickey’s has 560 locations in 43 states. On Thursday, the chain announced plans to open new locations in Lomita, Hawthorne and El Segundo. The restaurants will be owned and operated by Alex Roth who owns the Dickey’s location in Redondo Beach. Lomita and Hawthorne are expected to open in 2017. Dickey’s did not provide an opening date for the El Segundo restaurant.
Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com
