Chris and Jennifer Bruno of Mantua are opening the doors to their Dickey’s Barbecue Pit franchise to the public at 415 Egg Harbor Road in Washington Township, NJ, on Thursday, September 15.
Dickey’s is the first restaurant endeavor for the couple, aside from Chris working at McDonald’s in High School and Jennifer managing the Yogo Factory in Glassboro during college.
Chris, 31, has worked as a mechanic for a manufacturing company for the past 12 years. Especially fond of smoking meats, BBQ was a hobby he was passionate about for many years.
“When the opportunity arose to invest in our own business a year ago, we decided BBQ was the right fit since it’s something he enjoys. Not to mention there are not many BBQ options in the area,” Jennifer Bruno, 28, told South Jersey Food Scene. “Chris is now running this restaurant full-time.”
Besides Dickey’s, the couple just had their first child a couple of weeks ago. To say they’ll have their hands FULL is an understatement!
Dickey’s has been around for over 80 years and franchising for nearly 30 years. It started in Dallas, TX, and now has more than 550 locations in 44 states with a focus on Texas-style barbecue.
The menu features meats such as brisket, pulled pork, ribs, burnt ends, chicken, turkey breast, wings, and kielbasa. Baked potatoes, sides, sandwiches, mac & cheese bowls, and desserts round out the menu. There’s also one salad available if BBQ isn’t your thing (but why???)
The Bruno-owned Dickey’s will be the 3rd South Jersey location in addition to Egg Harbor and Manchester Township, with a 4th location to open in Willingboro by the end of the year. The Sewell location is the only one owned by the Brunos.
Check it out and let us know what you think!
Also, check out 42 Freeway’s coverage of Dickey’s below.
Marilyn is a freelance writer covering the food and drink scene of South Jersey. You can find more of her writing on Philly Grub and NewsBreak.