“The contract is not signed, but we are planning on opening another store,” Rudy’s co-owner Bill Fischer said.
Fischer and co-owner, Rudy Mosketti, are in the process of deciding between three locations, Fischer said.
“We want to bring good food to new areas and have so many legs with delivery, catering, and a food truck,” Fischer said.
The new location will not be disclosed until a contract is signed, but Fischer confirmed it will not be on Bechtle Avenue because there are already enough restaurants in that area.
For five years Rudy’s Smokehouse had a second location on Bechtle Avenue, but closed the restaurant in 2014 because the lease was becoming too expensive, Mosketti said.
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The equipment from that restaurant was saved and will be used at their new location.
In addition to the second location, Rudy’s Smokehouse is also on “the franchise market,” Fischer said
Fischer said he and Mosketti would love for someone to franchise the restaurant because a franchise could “put a store up faster than we could.”
“We have a concept that can grow exponentially in different areas,” Fischer said. “If we’re franchising, it’s attractive to franchisees to see us opening up stores in other areas.”
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Last week, Rudy’s Smokehouse was named restaurant of the year by the Chamber of Greater Springfield
“Winning the restaurant of the year award validated what we knew - building a store on what Springfield considers the wrong side of town and we consider the right side, the entrance to Springfield.,” Fischer said. “We did the right thing with good food and good people.”
Rudy’s Smokehouse smokes their meats “low and slow” in their Old Hickory Pit Smokers and makes homemade side dishes. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. For more information visit www.rudyssmokehouse.com.
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