Dickey’s Barbecue Pit to open new location in Waynesburg
Cindy Yorio had a goal to open a franchise.
It appears that goal is coming to fruition for the Mt. Morris resident. She and her husband, Joe, are the owners of the new Dickey鈥檚 Barbecue Pit coming soon to Greene Plaza in Waynesburg.
鈥淲e had a little bit of time to do some work and some research,鈥� Yorio said, 鈥渁nd one thing led to another.鈥�
Yorio said construction is expected to begin within the next couple weeks with the hope of opening the restaurant right before Easter.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very exciting,鈥� Yorio said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been working on this for a couple of years now and I think it鈥檚 starting to get ready to move forward.鈥�
This is not a new venture for Yorio. She and her husband owned O鈥橰eilly鈥檚 Pub in Mt. Morris for 28 years before closing about eight months ago, she said, 鈥渨ith all of the COVID stuff.鈥�
Dickey鈥檚 Barbecue Pit will be occupying 4,000 square feet of space in Greene Plaza and will be located next to Golden Wok Chinese.
The franchise started as a small family-owned business in Dallas, Texas, in 1941. It has grown to become the largest barbecue franchise in the United States, with more than 500 locations in 44 states.
It鈥檚 first venture in Southwestern Pennsylvania came when Dickey鈥檚 Barbecue Pit opened at Trinity Point Shopping Center in South Strabane Township June 1, 2016. It was the second to open in Western Pennsylvania after a location in Erie. There are several locations in eastern and central Pennsylvania.
Yorio said she has been in contact with Lynda Tran, owner/operator of the Dickey鈥檚 Barbecue Pit at Trinity Point, as preparations were being made for her restaurant.
鈥淪he had a lot of good things to say,鈥� Yorio said.
Yorio said she has some plans in place once the Waynesburg restaurant opens.
鈥淲e plan to focus on catering a lot,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e also have 4,000 square feet, so we鈥檒l have lots of room for inside dining. We鈥檙e hoping to open up a nice new sit-down restaurant in Waynesburg.鈥�
According to its website, dickeys.com, the fast-casual chain serves 鈥渕outh-watering, slow-smoked, Texas-style BBQ.鈥�
鈥淒ickey鈥檚 has a little bit of a different concept,鈥� Yorio said. 鈥淵ou will be able to be seated at a table by a hostess. However, we do have a counter where you can just walk up, and order and they鈥檒l cut and prepare your meat right there in front of you.鈥�
Greene Plaza consists of 122,000 square feet of retail space that boasts national retailers, such as Aldi, Big Lots, Dunkin, Rent-A-Center, and Wendy鈥檚.
This Plaza also contains local favorites, such as Casa Capri Pizza, Golden Wok Chinese and Hidden Treasures Thrift Store.
Pennmark Management Company, Inc., owner/operator of Greene Plaza, signed and secured the long-term deal for the restaurant.
鈥淢y commitment to Waynesburg, and the Franklin Township area, has always been the community as a priority,鈥� said Pennmark鈥檚 CEO Don Cafiero. 鈥淭he ever-evolving Greene Plaza is proof that Pennmark is adding new life to our properties for the community.鈥�
The company is excited about a national chain with the reputation of Dickey鈥檚 coming to Greene Plaza.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity not only for us, but for her,鈥� said Justin Bartholomew, Pennmark鈥檚 director of leasing. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing like it in the area that I鈥檓 aware of. It鈥檚 going to be a great addition that fits in nicely with the tenant mix and I think she鈥檒l do well.鈥�