Wright’s Barbecue reveals August 4th opening date for highly anticipated Benton location

Wright’s Barbecue is officially bringing its award-winning smoked meats to Saline County, with a hard opening date set for August 4, 2026.

The new Benton location of the restaurant will be the company’s latest expansion. Assistant Manager Micah told MySaline that fully trained pit masters are already prepared to welcome the community. Read more below.

According to the assistant manager of the new Benton location, the Wright’s pit masters have spent the last three months working and training at the Little Rock restaurant.

Founded in 2016, Wright’s Barbecue grew from a backyard smoker and a food truck into a highly acclaimed business with several smokehouses. The company prides itself on cooking the old-fashioned way, using real wood to smoke meats low and slow, fire by fire.

Image above from the Wright’s Barbecue website.

The Arkansas-based barbecue joint has become famous for signature menu items like its brisket and melt-in-your-mouth bacon burnt ends. In addition to this upcoming new location, Wright’s operates locations in Johnson, Rogers, the Bentonville Square, the Bentonville Walmart Campus, and Little Rock.

Wright’s Barbecue sits on the property of the former Applebee’s location at I-30 North and – coincidentally – Wright Avenue.

The journey to open the Benton location began with an official groundbreaking ceremony on December 9, 2025, at the former Applebee’s site located at 17348 Interstate 30. City officials and community leaders gathered to celebrate the construction of the family-friendly dining space, which features the restaurant’s signature open-flame pit.

Image above from the Wright’s Barbecue website.

As the August 4th opening approaches, Wright’s Barbecue is still actively hiring for the Benton location. Open positions include Front of House Team Member, Front of House Shift Lead, and Prep Cook for the Back of House. Interested applicants can apply online by visiting https://wrightsbarbecue.na.teamtailor.com/jobs.

• Saline County Events List •.

• Get MySaline’s free newsletter •

PREVIOUSLY:

UPDATE DEC 5, 2025

MySaline told readers in October that Wright’s BBQ would be bringing a new location to Benton, Arkansas. Now they will make it real, by hosting a groundbreaking ceremony. Read more below.

Wright’s is an Arkansas company with several locations. I’m northwest Arkansas there are the Johnson, Rogers, and Bentonville locations. In Central Arkansas, there’s Little Rock, and soon the fifth location will be Benton.

They purchased a building that was formerly an Applebee’s location. Coincidentally, it’s on the corner of Interstate 30 Frontage Road and… Wright Avenue.

Saline County Assessor records show that Firebox LLC purchased the property from Invest 20 LLC Etal on Nov. 14, 2025 for $2,250,000 – well below the previous purchase price of $2,907,000 in 2022. Applebee’s had been in that spot since 2005, but ownership of the property changed hands three more times before Firebox/Wright’s bought it.

Read the groundbreaking announcement from local officials below:

The City of Benton, Benton Chamber of Commerce, and the Saline County Economic Development Corporation are excited to announce the official groundbreaking for Wright’s BBQ, a beloved Arkansas-based restaurant known for its award-winning smoked meats and welcoming atmosphere.

The ceremony will take place on December 9th at 2:00 PM at the future home of Wright’s BBQ, located at 17348 I-30, Benton, AR 72015.

City officials, community leaders, project partners, and members of the public are invited to attend and celebrate the start of construction for what is expected to become a major culinary attraction in Benton. The new location will feature Wright’s signature open-flame pit barbecue, family-friendly dining, and a gathering space designed to serve both residents and visitors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Wright’s BBQ to Benton,” said Mayor Tom Farmer. “Their presence will add to the growing momentum in our community and bring another outstanding local business to our residents.”

The Benton location marks an exciting expansion for Wright’s BBQ, which has gained statewide recognition for its commitment to high-quality food, hospitality, and community involvement. Construction is expected to begin immediately following the ceremony.

Event Details:

What: Groundbreaking Ceremony for Wright’s BBQ

When: December 9, 2025, 2:00 PM

Where: 17348 I-30, Benton, AR 72015

Who: City of Benton officials, Wright’s BBQ leadership, community members, and media.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE OCT 7, 2025

All images here are from the Wright’s Barbecue website.

In 2024, Yelp named them on their Top 100 Barbecue Spots – at number one.

In September, they were named Certified Angus Beef BBQ Establishment of the Year.

In 2025, Southern Living Magazine named them the number one barbecue joint in Arkansas.

In 2025… or maybe 2026, they will add a new location in Benton, Arkansas.

MySaline has been asking Wright’s Barbecue to confirm the rumor since July. The rumor is that they were looking at taking up residence in the building where Applebee’s stood for 20 years but vacated in April 2025. Representatives at Wright’s stated a couple of times that they hadn’t signed anything yet and weren’t quite ready to tell the world.

All images here are from the Wright’s Barbecue website.

However, an announcement from their X/Twitter account on October 4, 2025, states, “We are moving ever closer to Saline County! Permits pulled! Benton here we come!” –@wrightsbarbecue

City of Benton records confirm that the “permits pulled” are for the address, 17348 Interstate 30, Benton, Arkansas, 72019. If you look that up on a map, you’ll see the old Applebee’s location at the corner of the North Frontage Road and Wright Avenue. Just a coincidence…

All images here are from the Wright’s Barbecue website.

A statement on their website tells where they fit in the barbecue world: “At Wright’s, we believe that great barbecue is about more than just meat – it’s about creating a memorable experience. Each cut of meat is carefully selected, seasoned with our special blend of spices, and smoked low and slow over real wood to achieve the perfect balance of flavor and tenderness. From our signature brisket to our melt-in-your-mouth bacon burnt ends, every bite is a taste of tradition and craftsmanship.”

All images here are from the Wright’s Barbecue website.

So the only thing left is to get a little more info from Wright’s… Like when they’ll start looking for employees, and when they hope to open their doors. MySaline will update you when we know more.

Sources: