A favorite Valley BBQ restaurant has closed, but another took its place.
The owners of Ryno's BBQ at Williams Field and Santan Village Parkway in Gilbert sold the operation to a new owner.
A statement was posted May 7 on their Facebook page which read:
After 5 years our time as a "brick and mortar" has come to an end. We have passed on (sold) to another local family/friends who love BBQ. It will be the same great food and friendly staff. We want to make sure those who have been a part of our fun, still supports the new owners. It will be fun to actually be a customer now. Our family and other businesses have grown so much the past year, the timing of the change couldn't be better for both families.
Thank You from The Rynos family.
But the switchover was quick. The new owner, Fatima Freig, a longtime Maricopa County public health worker, gave the inside a facelift, changing the decor to modern country.
The menu was revamped a little too.
"We are more BBQ/Mexican," said owner Freig. "Our Taco Tuesdays are really popular."
Freig changed the name to Pepe's BBQ in honor of her late father who passed away in March.
Other recently closed Valley restaurants:
The Yacht Club 4231 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix
Pita Island 1042 N. Higley Rd. Mesa. A statement on the restaurant's website states the closing is temporary while the owners look for a new location
Iceberg Drive Inn 2333 S. Val Vista Dr. Gilbert
Dilly's Deli at 14202 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale. However, according to a Facebook post on the Dilly's Deli page, the two Tempe locations are still OPEN.
