Dec. 11, 2018

When warm weather returns next year, Backyard BBQ customers will be able to eat their smoked ribs, pork and other food outside on a new patio.

The restaurant along Western Avenue south of the Western Mall is undergoing several improvements inside and out, said owner Alan Elenkiwich, who opened it in 2014.

The patio, which will be on the north side of the building, will seat 45 to 55 people, he said.

Elenkiwich also is working with the building’s owner on a face-lift for the exterior. The changes will include moving the restaurant’s entrance from the east side to the north side of the building. Backyard BBQ shares the building with Happy Jacks Casino, which also has an entrance on the east side.

“This will separate the two entities,” Elenkiwich said.

Inside, the kitchen area will be remodeled, bringing more of the food preparation into the view of customers, he said. The meat will continue to be smoked outside.

In keeping up with another quick-service restaurant trend, Backyard BBQ will add a self-serve kiosk where customers can place their orders.

“That’s the sign of the times these days,” he said, noting that restaurants are struggling to find workers.

The changes won’t alter the amount of seating inside. He expects the work to be done by the end of the year.

While he isn’t ready to go into details, Elenkiwich said the restaurant will double its menu offerings in the new year. Most of the entrees will be new to the area, drawing on dishes from the Deep South and other cities in the Midwest, he said.