Corky's BBQ is back. Here's a first look at the East Memphis remodel.

The original Corky’s BBQ is back.

The restaurant’s dining room has been closed for almost a year after a fire in the upstairs offices destroyed the restaurant interior. The restaurant reopened for indoor dining on Dec. 14.

Fans of the Corky’s BBQ at 5259 Poplar Ave. in East Memphis are in for a pleasant surprise when they walk in the front door.

“We remodeled the entire dining room,” said Jimmy Stovall, Corky’s BBQ owner and CEO.

The first thing that will strike you is that the bar is now in the middle of the restaurant.

“We raised the ceiling in the old bar area, took out the main wall that separated the bar from the dining room and added large windows to brighten the entire space,” Stovall said.

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For a more casual dining experience, guests can sit at high-top tables in the former bar area or can grab a stool at the three-sided bar.

Stovall said a door to the kitchen at the bar allows customers to pick up their orders quickly inside if the drive-thru line is long.

The main dining room somehow feels a bit more spacious, even though the footprint of the interior remained the same. Luckily the painted tin “roof” over the banquette wall, as well as the signature Corky’s dining room sign survived the fire damage and remain as focal design points for the dining room.

Memphis and blues art from local artists like Drew Barham and Ron Olson line the walls. Photos of Corky’s over the years greet guests as they enter the restaurant.

One new addition is a new patio on the front corner of the restaurant. Eventually this covered outdoor space will also have roll-up garage doors.

Luckily the kitchen and original pits had no damage and have allowed the drive-thru to remain open during the dining room remodel.

All the favorites like the Onion Loaf, BBQ Nachos, Ribs and Pulled Pork Sandwiches are on the menu.

“I am extremely excited that we were able to update the iconic Corky’s original location while keeping that familiar Corky’s look and feel,” Stovall said. “Watching my staff, many of them have been with Corky’s for years, take pictures of the new dining room and watching their excitement to show it off to customers is an incredible feeling.”

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The original Corky's location, the restaurant was opened in 1984 by Don Pelts. Barry Pelts, Don’s son, ran Corky’s until the restaurant group was sold in September 2021. “This is the version of Corky’s that my Dad would have built in 2022 if he was still here,” said Pelts a preview event for the new restaurant.

Stovall said: “While the remodel took much longer than any of us wanted, I believe the results will take the Corky’s brand, look and experience into the future.”

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected] and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.

Corky’s BBQ

Where: 5259 Poplar Ave.

Hours: 10:45 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10:45 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Phone: (901) 685-9744

Online: corkysbbq.com

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Corky's BBQ opens its East Memphis restaurant after fire damage