Staff photo

A new barbecue joint will soon open in east Fayetteville.

The new place, called Girls Gone BBQ, is owned by self-described “humble pitmistress” Dana Neely. The restaurant is set to open in the Kantz Center, next to El Sol Mexican Restaurant at 2630 E. Citizens Drive.

Neely, originally from Des Ark, Arkansas, opened a version of the restaurant in Seattle before moving back to Arkansas in 2020. She had originally planned to open her Fayetteville restaurant in a space off Block Avenue. According to her website, Neely was forced to take some time off from her restaurant endeavor to undergo treatment for breast cancer, which set her back on her initial plan.

According to her Facebook page, however, Neely found the new spot to restart the pursuit of her dream of a Fayetteville restaurant again in March.

From the looks of the menu on her website, Girls Gone BBQ will focus on barbecue staples like pulled pork, smoked chicken, brisket, ribs, and more, along with a few vegetarian items.

Renovations on the new space are already underway. If all goes well, Neely told us she hopes to be open sometime early this summer.