Blue Ribbon BBQ Is Expanding to Dedham

Six months ago, Blue Ribbon BBQ owner Ron Stoloff told Eater that he was “actively looking for a location” for a third Blue Ribbon. Now, he’s found one: Dedham Square, an area he describes as “very vibrant.”

While the new location is still in its very early stages — the lease was just signed last week — Stoloff says he’s hoping for a late spring 2017 opening. The Dedham location will have much more seating than the existing locations; he estimates that it will be in the 50+ range.

Blue Ribbon’s original location (West Newton) opened in 1995, followed by an Arlington location in 1997, and the company does plenty of catering business as well. “We’ve really been about slow growth,” Stoloff said in June. “We’re taking it ‘low and slow,’ which is the barbecue motto.”

Blue Ribbon doesn’t specialize in one particular style of barbecue; you’ll find bits and pieces of several regional styles, and that’s by design. “Our vision with the menu was to sort of cherry-pick our favorite styles in terms of barbecue,” said Stoloff in June, referring to himself and co-founder Chris Janowski, who has since relocated to Virginia. “We decided to go with a North Carolina-style pulled pork because we liked it the best. Same with the Kansas City burnt ends and the Memphis-style spare ribs.”

Also on the menu: Texas sliced beef brisket, St. Louis cut ribs, and lots more — not to mention pies, dessert bars, and fruit cobblers. The restaurants are casual and counter-service, drawing inspiration from “the classic roadside barbecue joints that dot the American South.”

Stay tuned for more details about the upcoming expansion to Dedham.

• Blue Ribbon BBQ [Official Site]