Back Porch Will Serve It Up

Back Porch B-Q is scheduled to open June 15 in the building at 2120 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville that previously housed Sezchuan Express

The restaurant will feature Northwest Arkansas’ only Chicago-style barbecue, says Keith Kidd of Fayetteville, who will co-own the restaurant along with Jay Edwards of Pine Bluff

In addition, a deck will be built onto the front of the building to accommodate blues bands from Memphis and the surrounding area. The business owners are leasing the building.

Kidd, a wide receiver for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1980 to 1983, owns Kidd’s Janitorial Services of Fayetteville. Edwards owned Cled’s Bar-B-Que restaurant and currently runs Ribs-R-Us catering service, both in Pine Bluff. He is also a truck driver for Tyson Foods Inc.

Edwards’ brother, Jauch Edwards, who works for Church’s Fried Chicken Inc. in Atlanta, is leaving his job to help with the new restaurant. Edwards says his three sons will also help with the business.

Edwards says the restaurant will feature several dishes unique to Northwest Arkansas, including a Polish link-style sandwich and an Italian beef sandwich. Back Porch will serve “high quality” rib tips with smaller bones but more tender meat, says Edwards.

Edwards says the cooking process and sauce also will make Back Porch barbecue different from other barbecue restaurants in the area. No alcohol will be served at the eatery, he adds

Kidd says a grand opening will be held July 11 featuring Steve Atwater, a free safety with the Denver Broncos football team, and Larry Johnson, a forward with the New York Knicks basketball team.