Best New Prototype – Existing Chain Concept
Winner: Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Pensacola, Fla.
Owners/Leadership: Jim ‘N Nick’s, Atlanta
Building and Interior Design: Resolute Hospitality
Andy Simpson, Partner & Project Lead, Fairhope, Ala.
Cynthia O'Connor, Interior Designer, C O C O design + consulting, Minneapolis, Minn.
Architect of Record: LSI Architects, Louisville, Ky.
Kitchen Design: Singer Equipment Company, Elverson Pa.
This 4,225-square-foot BBQ restaurant with a 1,344-square-foot patio is a fast-casual concept with a unique service style. The previous iteration had been full-service, but this new prototype offers a mix of on-premises dining with fast-casual ordering or full-service ordering at the bar. It also has a dedicated takeout area and a two-lane drive-thru to maximize throughput. Inside, guests can see the meat being smoked and even speak with the on-site pit master. One of the key goals was to increase speed of service and that meant overhauling the kitchen design to fit the new service style. The judges “loved the exterior” and felt the “buildout was very efficient.” They also “liked the design intent, and that they had a nice visual piece with the smoker.”
Images courtesy of Brandon Cobb, Plein Air Marketing & Technology
