After a long wait, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que will be coming to downtown Buffalo this fall. This morning, Buffalo's Planning Board gave unanimous approval for the Syracuse-based chain to open on Franklin Street between Chippewa and Tupper streets this October. Construction will begin this spring.
Local developer Mark Croce, who owns the building where the restaurant will be housed, has been a big supporter of bringing Dinosaur to the city.
"They're going to be a huge anchor for downtown Buffalo and for the stretch of Franklin Street that we call 'Restaurant Row,'" Croce said. "They are definitely going to be a very welcome anchor to really rejuvenate that part of Buffalo's Theater District."
Dinosaur operates popular establishments in Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, Harlem, and Stamford, CT.
The owner of the Cabaret Restaurant on Pearl Street John Lattanzi told the planning board he was worried about the barbecue smell affecting his business. The board directed the restaurant's owners to make sure its smokestacks are high enough to prevent smoke from wafting into the neighborhood.
Dinosaur executives say the Buffalo location will feature some specific food items tailored to the city.
"We are grateful that the Planning Board had no obstacles or hurdles for them to overcome. Their plans met all the specifications that were required. All they are doing is finalizing their liquor license applications to get things rolling for a spring start of construction and an October opening," said Croce.
