New Topeka BBQ restaurant rises from the ashes of an old favorite

TOPEKA (KSNT) – A local restaurant owner is keeping his family legacy alive by bringing back a Topeka favorite.

27 News got in touch with Alec Weaver who is making some final adjustments to the new barbeque restaurant Deano’s at Deer Creek. It is at the location of the former Lonnie Q’s barbeque that was run by Alec’s father, Lon Weaver. Lon stepped away from running Lonnie Q’s after 24 years last summer, prompting his son to step up in an effort to continue where his dad left off.

“Lonnie Q’s was a big part of the community, you know my dad was a big part of the community, and so I’m excited to serve that community again,” Alec said.

Alec said he wants to keep the spirit of his dad’s restaurant alive by keeping some old Lonnie Q’s favorites on the menu, but also wants to pursue some new ideas of his own. One of these is to introduce breakfast options into the restaurant’s menu.

“It’s a new restaurant but with the spirit of the old,” Alec said. “And that’s why my logo is the phoenix, so it’s the new rising of the ashes from the old. It’s about 75% me, 25% dad’s stuff. Trying to keep the old customers happy and introduce some new things and get some new items on the menu, get some fresh ideas and new customers and get them adjusted to the idea of this as a new restaurant.”

Alec said an official opening date isn’t set yet for Deano’s but he hopes to have it open sometime in early July this year. You can follow updates on Deano’s by following the restaurant on Instagram or by heading to Facebook. You can find Deano’s at 3150 Southeast 21st Street.

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