Whole Hog Café set to open in August

Springfield barbecue fans will have one more savory option by summer's end.

Restaurateur Paul Sundy is working with business partners Dan Bryant and Mike Heslin to bring Little Rock, Ark.-based Whole Hog Café to Springfield. The first location is scheduled to open this August in 6,700 square feet in the former Hollywood Video spot at Sunshine Corners shopping center, at Sunshine Street and Campbell Avenue, Sundy said.

Whole Hog will serve up barbecue basics from pulled pork to beef brisket, featuring a recipe that has twice won awards at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.

"It's a very simple product. There's no bells or whistles," Sundy said. "It's a world-champion barbecue - one of the best barbecue products I've been around."

Depending on how well his first Whole Hog location performs, Sundy said he would like to open two more, including one on Springfield's far south end. Sundy is also behind Big Whiskey's Bar & Grill, Parlor 88 and Fedora Social House.

This will be Whole Hog's first Missouri restaurant. The chain has 14 locations in Arkansas, Tennessee, New Mexico and Louisiana, according to its Web site, www.wholehogcafe.com.[[In-content Ad]]