Soon diners in Falls Church will have a new option for barbecue, as Famous Dave’s, a restaurant chain with headquarters in Minnesota, has signed a lease to open shop at the former site of the Original Pancake House in the Broaddale Shopping Center at 344 W. Broad St. in Falls Church.

Soon diners in Falls Church will have a new option for barbecue, as Famous Dave’s, a restaurant chain with headquarters in Minnesota, has signed a lease to open shop at the former site of the Original Pancake House in the Broaddale Shopping Center at 344 W. Broad St., Falls Church.

According to Brad McNaught, director of real estate for Famous Dave’s, the restaurant should be open for business in August or September, but there is much to be done to turn the former pancake house into a barbecue restaurant.

“Basically we are going to completely gut the interior and start fresh,” McNaught said. “It will be all new equipment and all new furniture and fixtures.”

McNaught said that the chain is considering additional locations throughout the D.C. area.

“It’s a good market for us,” McNaught said. And of the Falls Church location in particular, McNaught said, “We really liked the area. We feel the area is underserved with restaurants and we liked the demographic, so there’s a lot about it that we do like. We’re very excited at the opportunity and looking forward to a successful opening and long-term success.”

The chain currently has nine Virginia locations, in Alexandria, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, Glen Allen, Oakton, Sterling and Woodbridge, with two in Richmond.
Famous Dave’s has locations in 37 states and is best known for its award-winning pit barbecue ribs. It offers a catering service in addition to sit-down restaurants.