Construction to Begin for New Dreamland BBQ

Dreamland BBQ was set to begin construction this week on its new Gwinnett location in downtown Duluth, the City of Duluth said in a news release.

Construction of the restaurant, expected to be 6,500 square feet and located in the Parsons Alley Block, could be completed in as little as six months.

The city said construction would begin with the removal of the existing warehouse structure, but some materials would be reused “to reflect the history of the Parsons distribution facility which stood on the site.”

The 1950’s-era warehouse was once a bustling distribution center for dry and cold goods to stores all across Gwinnett and north Georgia.

The expected opening will be a return to Gwinnett for the restaurant chain, which was burned out of its Peachtree Corners location in Jan. 2013. The company decided not to rebuild at the Peachtree Parkway location.

Earlier this week Dreamland Duluth’s General Manager Tim Clark visited the site and went over plans with Duluth City Councilman Kelly Kelkenberg. Kelkenberg said Dreamland has reached out to the community by attending every one of the city’s Food Truck Friday events, introducing themselves and answering questions.

“We have taken the time to get to know this community in a very real way,” Clarks said in the news release. “Dreamland’s core mission from its inception in 1958 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has always been to serve great food to its customers as family.”

Dreamland will be the first of an expected 11 total retail sites on the Parsons Alley Block area, totaling around 42,000 square feet. The project also includes a central outdoor plaza to anchor redevelopment at the top of Duluth Town Green.

Dreamland is expected to employ 75-100 full-time staff.

Image from City of Duluth