Business & Tech

Sprouts & Shutters: Looney's Southern Bar-B-Que Coming Soon

This home-grown chain out of Oakland will be opening in a few weeks on Washington Avenue just south of Halcyon at the old Smiling Jack Station site in San Leandro.

 

Waiting to sink your teeth into a rack of ribs? It won't be much longer.

Looney's Southern Bar-B-Que has taken over the old Smiling Jack Station site at 14680 Washington Avenue, just south of Halcyon Drive in San Leandro.

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Manager Shari Penny said the place will be getting a facelift inside and out which could take a few weeks. The opening date has not been set but they are aiming for soon.

Looney's is a home-grown chain that started near the Children's Hospital in Oakland.

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It has since added a second location also in Oakland. The San Leandro store would be their third. 

BBQ blogger Dan Balsam has rated Looney's highly. He writes:

"This is one of the few places in California that doesn't use oak wood, and that's a good thing.  Ken Looney uses hickory and fruit woods, which add much more flavor to the meat and don't burn as hot as oak.  Enormous and tender brontosaurus, errr, beef ribs and fall-off-the-bone baby back pork ribs.  Flavorful sausage links with a bit of crunch to the skin.  Tender & juicy brisket and pulled pork.  This is more of a KC/Memphis style, which means lots of sauce."

The San Leandro location is large. In addition to the dining tables out front, there is a banquet room in back with room for a DJ station and dance floor.

The permits are going through for beer and wine sales on the premises.

There's plenty of parking.

The local Looney's is taking applications for service staff who will be trained at the original location near Children's Hospital.

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