Baker’s Ribs reopens March 26 after fire

After a four-month hiatus due to a fire, Baker’s Ribs, a “real Texas BBQ” staple in Eden Prairie for over 30 years, will welcome customers again on Tuesday, March 26.

The barbecue restaurant at 8019 Glen Lane was forced to close its doors last November after a fire damaged its custom-built smoker pit.

Owner Al Killion said on Friday that the fire prompted a closure that lasted “four months to the day,” much longer than his original projection.

“(The new smoker pit) was basically built from scratch, and it just took longer to deal with insurance and everything else to get it all done,” Killion said. “There were a lot of dots to connect, believe me.”

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Killion said it’s a big relief that the restaurant is almost open.

“I miss my customers,” he said.

Reflecting on the closure, Killion quipped, “I’ve never had that much free time, though it wasn’t all free time.”

During the hiatus, Killion worked with J&R Manufacturing in Mesquite, Texas, on a new smoker pit built to meet Baker’s Ribs’ specific needs. Although not custom-made, the pit was designed to fit through the restaurant’s front door and secure approval from NSF International to meet safety and sanitation standards.

“We actually have three smaller pits that fit into the footprint of the large one we had,” he explained.

Reflecting on the changes over the past 32 years since acquiring the original smoker, he added, “There are some electronics involved, and there are bells and whistles that I didn’t have when I started out.”

Killion sees the reopening as an opportunity to reintroduce the classic Baker’s Ribs experience with slight enhancements.

“I plan to add a couple of desserts to our menu,” he said. “I worked on that when we were gone. We’re going to work with them again (this weekend) to make sure it works right.”