Good location for Texas BBQ restaurant (Boston, Worcester: transplants, for sale, lease)

[txbaker27]

Can anyone give me any insight as to where a good location for a Texas style BBQ restaurant might be. We are looking to move up to MA at some point in the near future and have lured the other half of our family to come along if this was to take off. We have visited several times in the past and will be visiting again soon. Thanks for the input

[lrfox]

What type of clientele are you looking for and what type of environment would you want to set up shop in? I can think of a number of places where this would be successful, but they are pretty diverse in their nature.

I think this type of restaurant would be successful in some of the suburban areas on the edges of metro Boston. I could picture it being popular along Route 9 in Framingham, Route 20 in/around Marlborough, or along Route 1 on the North Shore in Saugus or Peabody where it would see a lot of traffic from a wide variety of demographics. These are visible locations and quite highly trafficked. On a much more particular level, there is an old brick firehouse for sale right on the very busy Route 140 in Taunton, MA right next to a large box retail center and restaurants like Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, TGIFridays, UNO Chicago Grill and some other good restaurants. I've always felt that it would make a great BBQ place. It's just a thought, but maybe worth looking into?

I also something like this could be very successful in a more urban setting. Particularly the downtown area of one of the cities in the state seeing a bit of a revitalization. Downtown Lowell, Worcester and New Bedford seem like ideal settings for this type of business. In fact, I know New Bedford has really made a push to be friendly to new businesses by offering expedited permitting and tax incentives to many new businesses. The city has its rough spots (as does any city), but the downtown area is a pretty lively area teeming with restaurants, bars, art galleries, etc all lining cobblestone streets surrounding some nice museums and a national historic park along the waterfront. It seems incentives and support for new and existing small businesses has been very successful here. I have some links on New Bedford that may be helpful in making your decision:
Downtown New Bedford INC: Downtown New Bedford, Inc. - Membership
Official NB City Site: City of New Bedford Official Website
New Bedford Chamber of Commerce: New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce
New Bedford Economic Development Council (good info on starting a business): New Bedford Economic Development Council
AHA (a group that advocates art, history, and culture utilizing local businesses): AHA! Art • History • Architecture
New Bedford Standard Times (local paper): SouthCoastToday.com - Frontpage - Your link to SouthCoast Massachusetts and beyond
New Bedford Tourism: City of New Bedford - Office of Tourism & Marketing

Again, I'm not sure EXACTLY what you're looking for. If you are looking for something on the more suburban side, Route 9 in Framingham and Route 1 on the North Shore are two of the most highly visible areas in the state. There are also a number of other very visible cites in and around Boston. They will offer high visibility but most likely at a bit of a cost.

If you're interested in my personal opinion, I would say that looking at some of the up and coming small city centers could offer some really high rewards at a relatively low cost. Tax incentives and expedited permitting and licensing are all very helpful for an upstart business. You can find EXCELLENT value here.

My personal inclination would be to look very hard at Downtown New Bedford. It's an excellent location (Right of of I-195- one of the primary routes to Cape Cod, on ferry routes and has a commuter train to Boston coming to town in the coming years) and it's up and coming relatively quickly (even during these tough economic times, it seems like a new restaurant is opening downtown weekly and seeing success). I would consider it a hidden gem at the moment and since it's still "hidden" the costs are going to be much lower than the surrounding areas... PARTICULARLY the Boston area. It's got a great growing community of restaurants and the surrounding area has a diverse population (culturally and socioeconomically)to draw from. And like I said, it seems like they're doing a lot to continue this growth downtown including tax breaks and reduced costs and easier access to necessary liscensing. If successful, you're only 25 minutes from Providence RI, 20 minutes from Cape Cod and under an hour from Boston which is nice for drawing additional clientelle. New Bedford's at least worth paying a visit to on your next trip and making some inquiries. I think it could be a very good investment.

No matter what you end up doing, good luck! I think we need some more REAL BBQ around here.

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by txbaker27

Can anyone give me any insight as to where a good location for a Texas style BBQ restaurant might be. We are looking to move up to MA at some point in the near future and have lured the other half of our family to come along if this was to take off. We have visited several times in the past and will be visiting again soon. Thanks for the input

Go to Lowell. I will want real good barbeque for sure haha.

[geezerman7]

already a number of good BBQ places in boston and the burbs. i can't opine re lowell or worcester, but those locales might represent a good biz opportunity...more space, cheaper rents, perhaps some outdoor seating, etc. best of luck!

[2KidsforMe]

Please come to the MetroWest! As Irfox mentioned, Route 9 Framingham/Westborough. You could even move into the old Boston Market on Route 9 in Westborough. It's for lease. We used to live north of Dallas, and realy miss good Texas style BBQ.

[txbaker27]

Thank you so much for the replies that gives us some pretty good ideas so far. i really love the idea of the old brick firehouse that Irfox mentioned. We defiantly want it to be a fun family style BBQ place like you get down here. But location is always the key besides the great food. While visiting in the past we had heard mention several times of New Bedford but never had the chance to go through. Looks like this time around we will have to check it out. I cant wait to bring some of the slow smoked sweet and tender fall apart melt in your mouth Brisket and Ribs to MA.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by txbaker27

Thank you so much for the replies that gives us some pretty good ideas so far. i really love the idea of the old brick firehouse that Irfox mentioned. We defiantly want it to be a fun family style BBQ place like you get down here. But location is always the key besides the great food. While visiting in the past we had heard mention several times of New Bedford but never had the chance to go through. Looks like this time around we will have to check it out. I cant wait to bring some of the slow smoked sweet and tender fall apart melt in your mouth Brisket and Ribs to MA.

Judging by the reaction you've gotten on this thread, you'll be in pretty high demand just about anywhere! I know some on this community (especially the transplants) will LOVE this stype of place.

That firehouse in Taunton is right near the intersection of Rt. 140 and Hart Street, just off of the Route 24 exit. I'll see if I can snap a photo while passing by and upload it next time I head down that way to give you an idea of what I'm talking about... unfortunately Taunton doesn't have google's streetview yet. Downtown New Bedford (and Lowell) are absolutely worth checking out next time you're in town.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by 2KidsforMe

Please come to the MetroWest! As Irfox mentioned, Route 9 Framingham/Westborough. You could even move into the old Boston Market on Route 9 in Westborough. It's for lease. We used to live north of Dallas, and realy miss good Texas style BBQ.

I agree. Metrowest to Central MA would be the best place for it.

[Bostonian08]

I disagree with all of the above. The best place to showcase your cuisine is right in the heart of downtown Boston. Newbury, Boylston, etc. I think you have an opportunity. As far as I know, great Texas barbeque is not properly represented in the heart of the city, and if you guys are sure you got what it takes, put your shop right in the heart of downtown. That where the most pedestrian traffic is, that's where the tourists and college kids are, and that's the showcase for the best of the best from around the world. If you got what it takes and you can properly represent the best of Texas, put it right in downtown right along side the best of India, Thailand, China, France, Spain, Mexico, and all the other culinary centers of the world.

Places like New Bedford, Lowell, Taunton aren't Boston anymore than Hoboken is new York City. Go to downtown if you can.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

I disagree with all of the above. The best place to showcase your cuisine is right in the heart of downtown Boston. Newbury, Boylston, etc. I think you have an opportunity. As far as I know, great Texas barbeque is not properly represented in the heart of the city, and if you guys are sure you got what it takes, put your shop right in the heart of downtown. That where the most pedestrian traffic is, that's where the tourists and college kids are, and that's the showcase for the best of the best from around the world. If you got what it takes and you can properly represent the best of Texas, put it right in downtown right along side the best of India, Thailand, China, France, Spain, Mexico, and all the other culinary centers of the world.

Places like New Bedford, Lowell, Taunton aren't Boston anymore than Hoboken is new York City. Go to downtown if you can.

I disagree. Most people I know that live in or closely around Boston could care less for bbq and don't even know what good bbq is. Just because Boston might have more foot traffic doesn't matter. You place it somewhere in the suburbs and you will pull from many parts of MA, even NH, RI, or CT.

Many of the college students and other people in Boston don't have an automobile and hardly leave the Boston area. People out in the suburbs don't want to go into Boston and try to find parking or pay $ to park eat bbq. I can't see the clientele on Newbury Street really caring or wanting to eat bbq.