Dickey's Wants the World to Eat Its Meat

In the St. Louis Post Dispatch, of all places, Roland Dickey Jr. talks about the plans to turn the family business into the nation's favorite barbecue franchise -- and, yeah, that'd be Dickey's Barbecue Pit, like you couldn't figure that out. The Dallas-based chain, which was founded by Travis Dickey in 1941 and is now co-owned by Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey (wife of Roland), is looking to expand nationwide in a big way -- Roland tells the paper he wants no fewer than 60 news stores by 2012. Three should be in St. Louis by year's end.

You can see for yourself where Dickey wants 'em: The eatery's Web site features dozens of "opening soon" notices on its store locater page -- including one in Cardiff, Wales, no kiddin'. Says Roland: "We wanted to take barbecue mainstream... My grandfather would roll over in his grave if he knew we were serving Caesar salads." --Robert Wilonsky