Willie Ray’s sit-down restaurant now open

CEDAR RAPIDS — Earlier this month, Willie Ray’s Q Shack started testing a larger location next to its Blairs Ferry Road NE drive-thru. A social media post announced its pop-up opening for the day.

Now, the doors on the barbecue icon’s new location are open full-time. An update posted June 21 invited fans to revisit during regular hours as the new location works out the kinks.

The new space at 288 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE features indoor service with seating to dine on-site, just steps away from its original drive-thru shack across the parking lot at 266 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE.

The opening comes many months after the restaurant’s sign first appeared on the space at the strip mall, next to Batteries Plus and Dollar General.

The drive-thru location will temporarily closed for a couple weeks until the new location is established.

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