Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar is slated to open next year in the former Scotty’s Brewhouse building on Oak Grove Road, according to a press release.
BLV Whiskey’s, LLC, a partnership group of three Poplar Bluff residents, closed a franchise deal with the restaurant and bar concept last month, marking the brand’s first entry into Southeast Missouri and its ninth location in the state.
The ownership group has preliminary renovation plans for the former Scotty’s Brewhouse building which include a large patio, a private dining room and upgraded fixtures and decor.
“We were initially drawn to the brand as longtime patrons of the Springfield Big Whiskey’s locations,” a representative of BLV Whiskey’s, LLC said Friday of the franchise partnership. “As we got further into the selection process, we were very attracted to the high-quality food and drink options at Big Whiskey’s, as well as their commitment to their local communities. … Between those factors, we feel Big Whiskey’s will be a perfect fit for Poplar Bluff.”
The group’s operator anticipates the new restaurant will employ roughly 75 staff members and the group intends to be involved with the local Boys and Girls Club and hopes to sponsor Poplar Bluff High School sports and other community-based programs.
Paul Sundy, founder and COO of Big Whiskey’s, is excited to be expanding into Southeast Missouri.
“We’ve long considered Poplar Bluff to be a community we want to be a part of,” Sundy said. “We’re very excited to see how the community responds to us. This group has big plans for the former Scotty’s building. I can’t wait to see it come together.”
The Scotty’s building has been vacant since the restaurant closed in July 2019. The new construction building had only been open about a year at the time. The location closed when its Indiana-based parent company filed for bankruptcy, shuttering 15 locations.
Big Whiskey’s was founded in downtown Springfield in 2006. The brand features a menu of bold, flavorful plates with signature items like the original Chicken Ranch Alfredo, the Honey Stung Burger, Boom Boom Shrimp Tacos and hand-cut steaks, jumbo bone-in wings and crispy hand-breaded chicken tenders.
In addition to the main menu, Big Whiskey’s features a weekday lunch menu, a weekend brunch menu and an extensive drink menu with more than 120 whiskeys, including rare and allocated bottles and more than 20 handcrafted cocktails.
Each Big Whiskey’s restaurant also features more than 20 TVs for sports enthusiasts, a private dining area known as the Flag Room for its ode to the American Flag and spacious patio seating.
Big Whiskey’s currently operates in Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma and is soon to open three stores in southeast Florida.