While on the way over to the fairgrounds
for a little #mayoralchatter, we noticed that Smokin Thighs bricks-and-mortar home looked striped up and ready to go on Wedgewood Avenue with the familiar green paint job from the food truck now adorning a building.
Bites ducked inside and found Matt Carney working on the place, which he says he hopes to open on Aug. 25. In spite of our standing objection to the use of barnwood in restaurants, the place looks great, with red chairs and a pretty tin ceiling. It has 80 seats (with maybe a few more on the patio), a big row of TVs on one wall — perfect for the upcoming football season — and a cool little beer bar in the back. The menu will feature smoked chicken in all its forms, along with some sides that they currently are unable to make on the truck. Fans of the truck will be happy to hear that it will still keep traveling around the city after the restaurant opens.
Carney says the restaurant already has secured a license to serve liquor (which is regulated by the state), but may not have a license to serve beer (regulated by Metro) in time for the opening. This leads to a peculiar situation: They'll be able to offer high-gravity beer but not the more familiar low-gravity brews. Carney says he's been working with Councilwoman Sandra Moore on the permit. "She's been very helpful," he says.
Side note: You can't help but note the ridiculousness of the two permitting schemes. Why in the world should a place that's already permitted for liquor not be allowed to sell beer? I understand that they are different boards, but is anybody really so concerned about a place selling beer when it's already able to sell much more potent alcohol?
Watch for Smokin Thighs soon at 611 Wedgewood Ave., and follow the progress on Facebook.
UPDATE, 8/19, 1:45 p.m.: The Smokin Thighs guys called to say that opening has been pushed back to Sept. 2. Plan your chicken habits accordingly.
Panoramic view of the inside, click for larger view.
