Big Whiskey’s opening 6th corporate store this week

Amid a franchising push, Big Whiskey’s is opening its sixth corporate-owned restaurant on schedule.

After announcing a summer launch for the restaurant in February, officials have scheduled an Aug. 18 grand opening for its 900 N. Old Town Ave. restaurant in Republic. Its first stand-alone restaurant, Big Whiskey’s remodeled a 5,200-square-foot former Ruby Tuesday it acquired for undisclosed terms. Bates & Associates was the project architect and BP Builders was general contractor, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

"It's always a crazy busy, but exciting time for us when we're getting ready for a store opening," said Paul Sundy, co-founder and senior vice president of operations, in a news release. "Lots of moving parts happening, but there's definitely a buzz of energy and anticipation surrounding our entire team."

Founded in 2006, Big Whiskey’s operates three corporate restaurants in Springfield, as well as one each in Ozark and at the Branson Landing. The company’s first two franchise restaurants opened this year with Bentonville, Arkansas, in March and Lee's Summit in May. A third franchise was announced May 29 for Las Vegas, scheduled to open in spring 2018.