Dallas, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/21/2015 -- Roland Dickey, Jr. has had a busy year in 2015, but his personal engagements on the conference circuit have not deterred him from continuing the aggressive growth of his Dickey's Barbecue franchise, which now offers Texas style barbecue nationwide in over five hundred locations. Roland Dickey, Jr. is continuing explosive growth plans across the Southwest by bringing its signature slow-smoked barbecue to Arizona with the addition of four future store locations following a newly executed Development Agreement. The four locations in and around the Phoenix area will be located in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek and will be owned and operated by Phoenix resident Thomas Emmons.

"Dickey's Barbecue Pit has eight stores in Arizona, and we are looking forward to bringing four new locations to this particular region of the U.S.," says Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "We now have more than 500 locations across the U.S. and we are always looking for new opportunities for growth. Our guests in these markets have been asking for some time when we were going to open more stores here, and we are thrilled to continue to expand across Arizona."

The new Arizona stores are slated to open over the next two years. Thomas Emmons has been an Owner / Operator for the past four years, after leaving a long career in the telecom industry preceded by service in the Marine Corps. The Texas-style barbecue restaurant has done well in Arizona, which led to the decision to open additional locations. "We are beyond thrilled to secure four new restaurants under the Dickey's brand in our home state of Arizona," Emmons said. "The Dickey's Barbecue Pit family has been nothing less than welcoming and supportive, and we look forward to utilizing this support as we continue to develop a successful business operation."

Roland congratulated the franchisee on their successes, "We are thrilled to see Thomas Emmons open a second location in Chandler, AZ. It's exciting to see Thomas's growth in the community and with our brand. Veterans are an essential part of our brand and it's always exciting to see them succeed. These events will be huge in Phoenix area, and also represent a bigger victory for our business nationwide."

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. 
Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the nation's largest barbecue chain. Founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey to provide authentic Texas slow smoked barbecue, all meats are still slow smoked on-site in each restaurant to this day. The fast-casual concept has expanded to more than 500 locations in 40 states.

For more information, visit http://www.dickeys.com