Dickey’s Barbecue Pit plans to locate a restaurant in Middletown, with a Peruvian chicken restaurant expanding to the fast-growing area just south of the C&D canal.
The location is the first in Delaware and marks the 44th state with a Dickey’s Barbecue. The franchise will be owned by Brendan Powers.
Details on location and anticipated opening date were not announced.
Powers, who grew up in Delaware, spent 25 years in the military before retiring in 2008, will run the business with his wife, Linda, and his two sons BJ and Trevor.
“I wanted to do something that my family and I could do together, and Dickey’s gave us the perfect opportunity to do that,” says Powers. “I am excited to have the opportunity to serve my community delicious, slow-smoked barbecue.”
Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation’s largest barbecue chain, was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 570 locations in 43 states.
“The Dickey family congratulates Brendan Powers and his family on opening their first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location,” says Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “The Dickey’s brand has grown rapidly throughout the nation, and we are proud to continue this expansion in Delaware.”
The Dickey’s announcement comes as restaurants continue to see Middletown as an expansion possibility.
DelawareOnLine.com reported the locally based Chicken House has opened in Middletown location on Main Street site that once housed a Vietnamese restaurant.
The restaurant, which features Peruvian chicken, operates a restaurant near Newark and according to the newspaper report is now renovating a temporarily closed location on Philadelphia Pike in north Wilmington for a conversion to a carryout and catering operation.
The location had been a full-service restaurant.
Barbecue has been gaining in popularity in Delaware. However, the state has not seen an influx of franchises.
Mission BBQ, a mid-sized chain, operates a location in Dover and Famous Dave’s has two locations in Christiana and north Wilmington.
