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A pair of Lawrence restaurant veterans have teamed up to bring a new barbecue restaurant to south Iowa Street.

Brad Ziegler, a partner in Lawrence restaurants J.B. Stouts and Marisco's, and Doug Holiday, the former general manager of Lawrence's Hereford House, opened Bigg's Bar & Grill, 2429 Iowa, earlier this week.

Bigg's Bar & Grill co-owners Doug Holiday, left, and Brad Ziegler, right, stand next to chef Albert Terry. The barbecue restaurant opened Thursday at 2429 Iowa, the former home of Molly McGee's. They're pictured Monday preparing for opening day.

The restaurant is in the longtime home of Molly McGee's, which moved to a new south Iowa Street location earlier this year. The new restaurant will feature a full menu of "Texas-style" barbecue. Ziegler and Holiday are hoping the restaurant's atmosphere will help it stand out from the city's crowded field of barbecue joints.

"Our theme is sports, ribs and rock ‘n' roll," Ziegler said. "This just seemed like a good fit in a college town. But instead of having the standard sports bar and grill menu, we wanted to have a full barbecue menu. We think that makes us unique."

The restaurant takes care of the sports theme by having 16 televisions -- including three projection screens and six high-definition models -- that carry a full-range of sporting events.

The rock ‘n' roll element includes the use of 65 Rolling Stone magazine covers plastered on the restaurant's walls. Plus, Ziegler is working on buying a special jukebox that will have the top rock ‘n' roll albums of all-time as determined by Rolling Stone.

Holiday said the barbecue also would be unique. Unlike traditional Kansas City-style barbecue, all the meat -- brisket, pork, chicken and sausage -- will be served without sauce. Holiday said that was done to accentuate the hickory-smoked flavor of the meat and the restaurant's special dry rubs. Sauce is served on the side, though.

Neither Ziegler or Holiday are worried about the restaurant carving out a niche for itself despite what some Lawrence area restaurant operators have said was an overcrowded market.

More barbecue restaurants

"I think Lawrence is a great market to be in," said Holiday, who left the Hereford House in February because he wanted to own a restaurant. "As long as you have good food and good service, you are going to survive in this town. We're a growing community and we have lots of people who like to eat out."

Ziegler, who also is an owner of downtown night spots Louise's and the Eighth Street Tap Room, agreed.

"Casual dining in this town is definitely very big because you have all the college kids," Ziegler said.

The restaurant opened Thursday and employs about 60 people.