Get ready for a second location of Elwood’s Shack, home of those mouthwatering steelhead trout fish tacos as well as mouth-watering barbecue, pimento cheese and, well, you name it.
Elwood’s Shack Park is going to be at 4040 Park Avenue, site of the old Consignment Music, says owner Tim Bednarski. The restaurant will be “right across the street” from the Loewenberg College of Nursing, he says.
And it’s going to be “five times bigger” than the Elwood’s Shack at 4523 Summer Avenue, Bednarski says. That location is 1,100 square feet. This one is 5,000 square feet.
Elwood’s Shack Park, scheduled to open March 1st, will seat between 90 and 95 people as opposed to about 25 or so at the other restaurant.
“Roger Sapp from Central BBQ bought it (the building) two years ago. We talked about doing something off and on.”
And, Bednarski adds, “He approached me about six months ago to put a second Shack location there.”
Like the other location, Elwood’s Shack Park will feature breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “We’ll do the exact same menu as the Shack, but also have a high-end barista coffee bar.”
They also will feature items from Bednarksi’s old Elwood’s Shells restaurant in Cooper-Young. These will include desserts.
“This is a great location,” Bednarski says. “Audubon Park is under construction. They’re about to begin a new tennis center, a new clubhouse next to Dixon (Gallery and Gardens).”
And, he says, “I used to live in the neighborhood behind this location. I lived on Graham. It’s the first place I owned a home 30 years ago. I’m excited to come back to this neighborhood and revitalize it.”
Bednarksi hired Reuben Skahill as managing partner for Elwood’s Shack Park. “I think he’s fabulous for our business. Fabulous for our brand.”
Elwood’s Shack will continue to expand, Bednarksi says. “I have a location in Texas I’m working on currently. I don’t have it open.”
He’s also planning “maybe a fourth location in Mississippi. We’re talking a couple of years.”
Bednarksi had a deal to open one in Southaven, but it got canceled during the pandemic. “I’d like to go back there.”
