Des Moines' Blue Ribbon Back Festival has been indulging bacon-lovers for 10 years. See just how much fun and bacon we've enjoyed.
It should come as no surprise that Brooks Reynolds' new concession on the Iowa State Fairgrounds will be "pork-centric."
Reynolds, after all, is the co-founder of Des Moines' Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, better known as BaconFest.
He joined Iowa State Fair CEO Gary Slater; business partner Carey Hansen, the owner of Greek House Chefs and Hansen's Manhattan Deli; and others Monday to symbolically break ground for the new eatery, to be called JR's South Pork Ranch.
The new eatery will take over the cavernous space long occupied by Diamond Jacks, which shut down after the owner and two others were charged in connection with failing to pay a quarter-million dollars in sales taxes. The case is still pending.
"One of the things that we're proud of this year is that this facility is coming under new management, and it's going to have a facelift," said Slater. "It's going to be improved, and it's going to be a lot of fun."
The Iowa State Fair sent out a proposal for someone to take over the four-decade-old bar. Seventeen groups bid, and Reynolds was the winner.
Reynolds said the restaurant will have two spacious patios and six bars.
"I knew that place was going to become available a year ago, but the process to transition over to that space was greatly affected by COVID," said Reynolds.
Though the pandemic forced the cancellation of the Iowa State Fair in 2020, Slater said it will resume this August, and Reynolds said he's moving forward with the remodeling project.
The budget is "substantial," said Reynolds, and it's likely the concession and bar will be at least partially open for the Good Guys Car Show 2021, slated for July 2 on the fairgrounds.
"We'll do a few soft openings in July leading up to the Iowa State Fair, and then we will be open full-capacity on Thursday, Aug.12," said Reynolds.
The new menu won't be released until approved by the fair board, but patrons can hope to see some fun pork items with "unique flavors," Reynolds said.
"We're just excited to become a part of one of the greatest fairs in the United States and see folks' reactions with the new items we will have," he said.
Sierra Porter covers entertainment for the Des Moines Register. She can be contacted at sporter@registermedia.com or via Twitter @SierraAPorter95.
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BaconFest co-founder to replace Iowa State Fair's Diamond Jacks with new 'pork-centric' concession and bar - Des Moines Register
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