Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Expands with 28 New Ghost Kitchens Nationwide

Bold expansion showcases creativity, innovation and the future of barbecue convenience

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, the world’s largest barbecue concept, announced the opening of 28 new Ghost Kitchens across the United States in September 2025. This bold expansion signals a pivotal moment for the brand, strengthening its footprint in new and existing markets while showcasing its commitment to creativity, growth, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving restaurant industry.

Ghost Kitchens are delivery only facilities designed to meet the growing demand for convenience and digital ordering. By leaning into this model, Dickey’s is not only scaling faster but also serving barbecue lovers in communities where a traditional brick and mortar store might not yet exist.

The new Dickey’s Ghost Kitchens opened in Texas including Wylie, Corsicana, McKinney, McQueeny, Irving, Dallas, Lewisville, and Ft. Worth. Additional openings included Arizona with Tempe and Mesa, Alabama with Enterprise, New Jersey with Jersey City and Whiting, New York with Scarsdale, Pennsylvania with Philadelphia, Broomal and Pottstown, Louisiana with Covington, Lafayette, and Carencro, Ohio with Oakwood Village, Oklahoma with Tulsa, Illinois with Aurora and Florida with Saint Augustine, Riverview, and Sanford.

“Ghost Kitchens allow us to bring Legit. Texas. Barbecue. to more guests faster than ever before,” said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “It is about meeting our guests where they are whether they are in a bustling city or a suburban neighborhood and delivering the same authentic barbecue experience with the convenience of digital ordering. This model amplifies our ability to innovate while keeping the traditions of slow smoked barbecue alive.”

For Dickey’s, Ghost Kitchens are not just a short term growth strategy. They are a creative pathway to long term expansion. With 28 openings in a single month, Dickey’s demonstrates how established brands can evolve with consumer demand while continuing to set benchmarks for operational excellence.

“Expansion has always been part of our DNA,” said Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group. “What started with my grandfather in 1941 has grown into a brand that thrives on adaptability. Ghost Kitchens allow us to scale quickly, support our franchisees, and open doors in markets that might otherwise take years to develop. This is a proud moment for our family business and a reflection of how far Dickey’s has come and where we are headed.”

As Dickey’s celebrates more than eight decades of serving barbecue, the brand continues to build on its legacy with bold moves that embrace technology, modern dining trends, and the evolving needs of today’s guests. With more than 400 locations worldwide and counting, the addition of Ghost Kitchens further positions Dickey’s as a leader in creative restaurant growth strategies.

About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Founded in 1941 by the Dickey family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world’s largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For more than 80 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.™ Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey’s barbecued meats are paired with a variety of Southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey’s never takes shortcuts — because real barbecue can’t be rushed.

With more than 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey’s Barbecue Franchise and Dickey’s Restaurant Brands continue to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey’s has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2022 "America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation’s Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology’s Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine.

For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. For franchise opportunities, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com.