Famous Dave's on the way in Cottage Grove; restaurant could be open by Thanksgiving

Talk about it

Cottage Grove’s newest restaurant isn’t exactly vegetarian-friendly — bib-and-barbecue sauce would be a bit more apt.

Famous Dave’s, the Minnetonka-based barbecue chain famous for its barbecue ribs and hickory-smoked meat, is set to open its first restaurant in Cottage Grove after the City Council last week signed-off on its plans to renovate a vacant KFC at 8479 East Point Douglas Road.

According to the plans approved by the council, the company will gut the former fast-food restaurant and revamp it into a 50- to 60-seat Famous Dave’s BBQ Shack, a smaller, more take-out focused restaurant than its larger outposts in nearby Woodbury and St. Paul.

The 3,000 square-foot restaurant will feature a drive-through lane for take-out order pick-up, an outdoor smoker oven and will serve beer and liquor. Council members approved a variance to allow alcohol to be served in the zoning district where the restaurant will reside.

The restaurant will have to apply separately for a liquor license before opening. City officials indicated the location could be open by Thanksgiving.

Approval of the Famous Dave’s plans fills a highly-visible commercial site that has been empty since the famous fried chicken joint abruptly closed last year; it is one of a number of empty commercial sites Cottage Grove economic development officials have sought to help find tenants for in recent years.

Tags: cottage grove, updates, business, news