How happy am I? Happy as a four-year-old with a Sharpie and a museum full of unprotected priceless antiquities. And you will be too if you like barbecue: Big Daddy’s is back! Well, almost.
I spoke with Ron Whyte, one of the three brilliant barbecue masters behind Big Daddy’s, and he told me that they have indeed taken over the former West Indies Soul space at 625 University Ave. in St. Paul, just west of the intersection of University and Dale. “We are in the process of getting some equipment installed,” Whyte told me. “Next week we’ll start sprucing up the place and testing the equipment, and we’re hoping to open March 1st.”
Happy days are (almost) here again!
White tells me that the new incarnation of Big Daddy’s will have their signature Flintstone-sized beef ribs, their pork spare-ribs, barbecued chicken, and rib tips, as well as a few new dishes like collard greens, French fries, and baked beans. The new location will be take-out only, with a few counter seats. “The health department was dictating that we go with carry-out until we move to the new location,” explained Whyte.
A new, new location? Yes. The plan is that Big Daddy’s will be the anchor tenant of Frogtown Square, a new mixed-use development that will be built on the northeast corner of Dale and University and is forecast to open in late 2011 or 2012. The building will house both senior citizens and retail spaces like Big Daddy’s—and so now I know where I want to retire, too.
Hooray! This seems like a real break in the long, long winter. How long till March? I’m counting the minutes.
