Charlie & Barney's chili restaurant planned for Poplar Bluff

Business Today

POPLAR BLUFF -- A Charlie & Barney's chili restaurant should open in Poplar Bluff by mid-summer, according to Tom Coyle, executive director of the Indianapolis-based chain.

If all goes according to plan, it will be the first Charlie & Barney's in Missouri, Coyle said.

Charlie & Barney's operates restaurants in six states, with the majority in central Indiana and Georgia.

"The concept for the restaurant is chili, but we also have a broad menu that includes hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, chicken dishes and entree salads," Coyle said. A fix-it bar of toppings allows patrons to customize sandwiches and chili, he said.

"We are currently talking to an individual who will be the licensee in Poplar Bluff," Coyle said.

The company signs licensing agreements with individuals who use the company's procedures, recipes and brand names.

"We did a demographic study of people's ages, how often they go out to eat, etc., and Poplar Bluff came up as a place we would be successful," Coyle said.

Coyle said the company is still working on the contract with the licensee and a site for the restaurant has not been determined. However, he said most of their restaurants are 1,800 to 2,000 square feet and are located in strip malls.

"We look for locations with a good daytime population with a lot of people working nearby, plus a residential base for evenings and weekends," Coyle said.

When fully developed, the restaurant should create 15 new jobs and an annual economic impact of $400,000, including local purchases, supplies, payroll and rent, Coyle said.

For more information on Charlie and Barney's or to see a complete menu, got to the company's Web site at cbchili.com.