Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q is coming back to life on Gate Parkway after the restaurant sustained fire damage in March and was demolished earlier this year.
Bono’s President Josh Martino said Oct. 26 that the restaurant will be the first free-standing location the chain has constructed in several years. He hopes to open it by the spring.
“This was a unique opportunity for us,” Martino said.
“That building was built quite some time ago. The restaurant industry looked a lot different and worked a lot differently.”
Martino said the dining room will be smaller than before and a covered, outdoor patio will be added.
A drive-thru will allow customers to pick up to-go orders. Five of Bono’s 20 restaurants have drive-thrus, he said.
Inside, the area near the cashier will allow for easier third-party delivery service and online order pickups.
“We did all of that before when the store was still running, but with how COVID has affected us and being up almost 245% in those revenue centers, we need a more strategic layout in that area,” Martino said.
Prosser Inc. is the project civil engineer.
Bono’s received a permit for a $10,000 demolition Aug. 24. Martino said until a contractor is selected, he is not sure how much reconstruction will cost.
Martino said March 10 a dishwasher noticed smoke in the back of the restaurant near the meat smoker and called 911. He and the three other employees cleaning escaped and no one was hurt.
Martino said in March that the location at 10065 Skinner Lake Drive, built in 2000, was one of the chain’s best-performing locations.
“We know that store, we know that location, we knew that was something we were going to rebuild no matter what,” Martino said.