Dickey’s BBQ Pit is Mount Pleasant’s newest restaurant officially opens at 11 a.m. Thursday, but franchise owners Larry and Bianca Visk welcomed a small crowd of friends and local officials Wednesday night for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the end of a red carpet.
Afterwards, restaurant employees served up dinner to an invited crowd Wednesday to give them a taste of the expected crowds that will fill the dozen or so tables there once the doors open for lunch Thursday.
This is the third Dickey’s location for the Visks; they also operate restaurants in West Milwaukee and in Glenview, IL, but they haven’t always been business owners.
Bianca’s friend, Patti Wende, a teacher in Kenosha, introduced Bianca to Dickey’s when they had lunch together two years ago.
“The Dickey’s in Kenosha had just opened, and we hadn’t seen each other in a while so I thought Dickey’s would be nice,” Patti said. “Seven hours later, Bianca had an idea.”
Bianca said the food was so good and she really thought the concept was one that she and Larry could make work.
“I’m a piano teacher still with 32 students, and Larry spent 30 years as an electrician, but he always loved to cook so this has been a dream come true,” she said.
The Visks worked with Marrio Murrell, director of operations for Dickey’s, to find the right location when they were ready to expand.
“Mount Pleasant is a working class town that is experiencing exciting growth, and Dickey’s compliments the community,” he said.
Bianca said what she enjoys most about being a Dickey’s franchise owner is her interactions with the public.
“I just really enjoy talking with people and seeing them enjoy the food,” she added.
Dickey’s BBQ Pit is located in the Pleasant Pointe Commons strip center, next to Dunkin’ Donuts on Washington Avenue. They are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week.