Tom Ryan, one of the barbecue pioneers in the East Valley, will open another Tom’s BBQ on the northeast corner of Alma School and Queen Creek in south Chandler.
The fast-casual restaurant will take over the Ocotillo Plaza’s former Buono’s Pizza space, which has sat vacant for two years. Ryan says the 70-seat eatery will open soon after the Fourth of July holiday.
Tom’s BBQ currently has four locations: Two in Mesa, one in Tempe, and one in Casa Grande. But Chandler is familiar territory for Ryan. The Chicago native opened his original restaurant at Arizona Avenue and Galveston in 1988, and has lived in Chandler for 25 years.
In 2009, Ryan opened a Tom’s BBQ at Gilbert and Chandler Heights in south Chandler, but closed it earlier this year. The restaurant – the only one to offer sit-down service and offer a full bar – suffered from too much overhead and too little visibility, Ryan says.
Besides mesquite-smoked ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, Tom’s BBQ is known for its hand-breaded fish dinners. Nearly everything on the menu is made from scratch – from the hand-cut french fries to the macaroni and potato salads to the barbecue and tartar sauces.
“We’re serving our third generation of customers,” Ryan says. “People used to come in with their toddlers, and now they’ve got toddlers of their own. It’s become a tradition for them. They’ll come in at the same time on the same day every week.”
