BBQ King opens doors in Huntley after months of setbacks

With the tables set and the meat smoked for hours in advance, BBQ King’s new Huntley location opened its doors Wednesday after months of setbacks.

The site, 11706 E. Coral St., formerly was occupied by a village-owned house known as the Kelley House, which had fallen into disrepair. Initial plans for the restaurant projected ground to break in September 2017 and the business to open in March or April.

A tentative opening date of Sept. 25 later was established but also got pushed back after staff had to wait on furniture deliveries and other factors.

Doors opened at 11 a.m. Wednesday and by 1:30 p.m., the first floor of the building was full. BBQ King owner Jason Szmurlo had said this was a soft opening, and he is targeting a grand opening event for the restaurant Nov. 17.

Next to the restaurant are two 1,500-square-foot retail business spaces that are yet to have occupants.

Hours of operation for BBQ King will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Overflow parking will be available in the church parking lots to the south and east of the building, according to a social media post from BBQ King.

BBQ King’s menu features ribs, brisket, wings, sandwiches and various barbecue platters.

The restaurant also has won numerous awards in a variety of barbecue competitions, including Ribfest Chicago’s first place in the “Best Ribs Juried by our Celebrity Judges” category. In 2018, BBQ King won third place in this category and for “Best Lounge.”

Customers also can use the Huntley location to order spiral sliced hams as part of BBQ King’s third annual Smoke the Ham sale.

A limited number of glazed and hickory-smoked hams can be preordered for $69.95 plus tax starting Thursday. Orders are pre-pay only. Pickup will be from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 23.

Turkeys also will be for sale for $49.95 at the Huntley restaurant. A total of 100 12- to 14-pound turkeys are available for order in Huntley, and another 50 are available in Woodstock. Pickup will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Thanksgiving morning.

For information about preordering, call BBQ King's Huntley restaurant at 224-654-6201.