BBQ restaurant moving to another spot in E. Dundee

The Blue's BBQ & Grill, an eatery that planned on opening at 220 N. River St. in East Dundee, will instead set up a block away inside the former Pour House.

The restaurant, now slated for 102 N. River St., is moving because the property requires less work for renovations, said Robert "Buzz" Doyle, one of three business partners with Blues BBQ.

Doyle and his partners, Kelli Keyzers and Patrick Maggi, already own and operate the Sweet Pop Fizz Candy Bar at 316 N. River St. in East Dundee.

The new restaurant will feature barbecued meats in multiple varieties, including Memphis-style ribs, pulled pork and chicken, and meats prepared "naked style," that is, without barbecue sauce.

Other offerings will include between 100 and 120 different bourbons, between 25 and 30 different bottled beers and 11 taps.

"It's a little bit better facility for what we wanted to do," Doyle said of the new location. "It's going to take a lot less lead time for us to get it ready."

When all is said and done, Doyle estimates the bar will be open July 4, while the restaurant portion will follow about a month later.

That timetable would not have been possible had they stayed at 220 N. River St.

"We were looking at not being able to open until September or early October," Doyle said.

The renovation project, expected to cost between $300,000 and $400,000, involves gutting the kitchen, leveling and redoing the floors and removing a few walls, Doyle said.

At 6,500 square feet, the new spot is 200 square feet smaller than the old location, a factor Doyle doesn't think will make much of a difference.

Tom Roeser, owner of the buildings at 102, 220 and 316 North River Street, said the move is a continuation of his ongoing efforts to revamp the downtown.

"It's one more bright spot for East Dundee," Roeser said.

Blues BBQ is holding a tasting of its food Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Dundee Farmers Market until the eatery opens this summer.