Dickey's BBQ Featured in Record Eagle

TRAVERSE CITY — The first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit franchise north of suburban Detroit will make its debut in the Campus Plaza on Thursday.

Traverse City will be the ninth location in Michigan for Dickey’s. The Dallas-based chain operates 560 locations in 43 states.

“It’s a fast-casual barbecue restaurant,” said Andre Bushnell, who co-owns the Traverse City location, 1201 E. Front St., with Loren Akerman. “At the end of the day it’s all about convenience, getting your food quick.

“To be able to have a great product in a fast-paced environment is what Dickey’s is all about when you go to barbecue. It’s something northern Michigan has yet to have, so it was a great idea to bring it.”

Bushnell and Akerman own three other franchise locations under construction in the Grand Rapids area. Bushnell said adding another restaurant in a place like Gaylord may be a possibility “down the road.”

Dickey’s features an in-house smoker, dubbed ‘The Cherry Pit.’

Bushell said all seven of Dickey’s meat selections are cut fresh and smoked daily. He said pulled pork and brisket are smoked overnight for 13-14 hours in the rotisserie-driven, hickory-smoked pellet smoker.

Dickey’s has pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken breast, polish kielbasa, jalapeno cheddar kielbasa, turkey, and St. Louis-style pork ribs on its menu.

Bushell said he hopes the aroma of smoked meats will bring people into the restaurant.

“Hopefully we can get that pit smoke smell out there,” said Bushell, motioning to the Grand Traverse Civic Center across the road from the restaurant.

Dickey’s offers three barbecue sauces: sweet sauce, spicy and original. Bushell would like to add a cherry sauce later.

The meat offerings at Dickey’s can be on a plate, in a sandwich or on top of a baked potato. Assortments of side dishes are also available.

Kids age 12 and younger eat free every Sunday with a $10 adult purchase.

The Traverse City location has 31 employees and inside seating for 38 people. Tables in front and alongside the restaurant can seat another 17 or 18.

Takeout service is also available and ordering can be done online.

A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Customers can also enter via social media to win free barbecue weekly for a year.

Thursday will also kick off four weeks of events for the opening.

The first 50 guests on Thursdays will receive a free treat and the day also includes a free Big Yellow Cup with free refills all day. The first four Fridays will feature a gift card for the first 80 guests that make a donation to the Barbecue Boots & Badges Foundation, and meals for all uniformed first-responders are 50 percent off.

Singer/Songwriter Saturdays are scheduled for the first four Saturdays.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Bushell says the restaurant may stay open another hour during the summer months.