Dickey’s Barbecue Pit entering Japan with two ghost kitchens

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, the international barbecue restaurant concept with 500 locations in the U.S. and UAE, has announced that it has signed an area development agreement to open in Tokyo in 2021.

Signed with Sunsheng (Jason) Lin, owner of Seikou Co. LTD., the agreement will see two ghost kitchen locations open in Tokyo in spring and fall of 2021. Dickey’s first launched its ghost kitchen concept back in August 2020, with a push to entice entrepreneurs looking for a more affordable entry into the Dickey’s ecosystem.

“The opportunity to partner with Dickey’s came about by a twist of fate,” Lin said. “What was first planned this past January over dinner in Dubai, was put on pause due to COVID-19. But, allowing the pandemic to break my dream of operating this brand was simply not in the cards.

“With God’s assistance, I’m proud to bring Dickey’s to the Japanese consumer. It will be my utmost priority to manage this brand dutifully and have my team deliver the American spirit that Dickey’s portrays. My ultimate goal is for Dickey’s to be present in every city in Japan.”

As well as this new agreement for Japan, Dickey’s has also signed development agreements in a number of untapped markets, including Australia, Brazil, Dubai, Egypt, Pakistan, and the Republic of Georgia. If everything proceeds as intended, 2021 could be a truly international year for the Dallas-based brand.

“We are thrilled for our first location to open in this massively attractive global city,” said Jim Perkins, vice president of international development for Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “My time in Japan taught me to understand that dining in Tokyo is about bringing people together, socializing, and building stronger ties to the community. With two new ghost kitchens, we know we are providing a special way for guests to conveniently connect over Dickey’s Legit. Texas. Barbecue. in the comfort of their home.”