Front Range Barbecue, which in the fall temporarily closed the doors of its Old Colorado City restaurant for major renovations, has quietly opened a second location in Colorado Springs.

The restaurant at 2220 Academy Place debuted on May 2, serving up the authentic, from-scratch, Southern-style comfort food and Cajun fare the business is known for.

“We’ve had a great response so far,” owner Brian Fortinberry told The Gazette, adding he’s already welcomed plenty of familiar visitors who frequented the original west-side location.

Fortinberry plans to keep running the second location at Academy Place even after his original location reopens, which he’s pushing to do by the summer of 2028.

The new, 1,200-square-foot location offers 30 seats inside and an outside dining area with a handful of tables. Core menu offerings are largely the same as at the Old Colorado City restaurant, such as house-smoked meats, barbecue and veggie burger options; sides including french fries, Southern baked beans, red beans and rice, and more; and a variety of salads and desserts.

Fortinberry has also been operating the catering aspect of the business from this location, which has the benefit of being more centrally located.

“We’re excited to be out here,” he said.

Fortinberry temporarily closed his original location at 2330 W. Colorado Ave., which has been in operation for 25 years, in early November.

Renovations planned for the space, a former home built in 1898, include an expanded, updated kitchen with new equipment and an extended wrap-around porch featuring garden and patio areas. Where a tented patio space is outside, Fortinberry plans to replace it with a new room that can be used year-round.

The bigger space will make the original location more efficient and allow him to diversify Front Range Barbecue’s menu and catering services, Fortinberry previously said.

Fortinberry hopes the project will be fully permitted over the summer, with construction expected to start in the late summer or early fall.