Lone Star Rib House returns to North Queensland

A Texan themed restaurant franchise will be setting up a store in Townsville, but is still looking for a franchisee.

Another Lone Star Rib House restaurant in Queensland. The franchise is set out a Texan theme with a full service restaurant.

Lone Star Rib House has decided to “go in guns blazing” and build a restaurant in South Townsville, even though it is still looking for a franchisee.

The Texan themed restaurant could be offering its ribs and peanut shells to throw on its floors within six weeks, opening 18 new jobs.

Other than a franchisee, the company is seeking a manager, chefs, and bar staff.

The franchise’s chief executive Kim Gerry said the company found the perfect location on offer in Dibbs St, where the former Ribs and Rumps restaurant closed last year.

The opening of the restaurant is a sign of the brand’s return to North Queensland, having previously operating in Cairns as well as in Ross River Rd, but its closest operating restaurant is now in Rockhampton.

Mr Gerry said COVID-19 had impacted the company and its franchises, but it was ready to expand and open new stores, and it believed in Townsville’s future prosperity considering up to 500 additional army personnel were expected to relocate to the city in coming years.

This is the standard design of a Lone Star Rib House. Construction at the Townsville restaurant is expected to begin next week.

“We’re in the franchise business, not the company stores, but in saying that we do break the rule when we believe there’s a really good site,” Mr Gerry said.

“We’ve taken the opportunity to have the brand back in Townsville.

“Ideally we will put a franchisee in here, we will still be actively involved in opening the store and getting it up and going and giving head office support.

“We want the store to succeed.

“I think the business will get snapped up pretty quickly to be honest with you.”

The company takes over the lease of the building from next week, and from then it will focus on construction.

It aims to open by March.

Mr Gerry said some staff across the company were ready to assist with the transition, which included a chef from Western Australia.

“The idea is to employ local people, long-term we’re better off,” he said.

“It’s all about people, mate, we’re in the people business.”

Originally published as Lone Star Rib House returns to North Queensland