Big Willie's is reborn - Mr. Spanky's Southern BBQ & Crab Shack is coming to life
Milford Recently there has been a big change at Big Willie’s on US Route 6, just outside of Milford. A new owner, with renewed interest in the business that has been coined over the years as a barbeque restaurant and bar, is about to breathe new life into the forgotten eatery. Big Willie’s has shed its name and attitude, and will reopen with a new name and menu that is geared more toward families and their ability to enjoy a good, quality barbeque meal at a reasonable price. Mr. Spanky’s Southern BBQ & Crab Shack, complete with its new signature icon piggy, will launch its new look, feel and menu later this month. “I have been working very hard to change the locals perceptions of the restaurant over the last couple of months,” said Dennis Anastasis, owner of Mr. Spanky’s Southern BBQ & Crab Shack, “With newfound consistency and staff, I cannot wait to unveil the new look and menu. Being a family-man myself, I know it’s tough to take your entire family out to dinner with today’s prices and area restaurant choices, which is why we decided to come up with a more family-friendly image and price points. Families can come to the restaurant, eat a great meal and still leave here with money in their pockets.” The new menu will include take-out specials, catering options, family packs and a wide range of southern down-home good eats. The old wood walls of the restaurant remain the same - giving it its character, but within those walls lay eclectic license plates, nostalgic signs and of course, red and white checkered table cloths. Mr. Spanky’s Southern BBQ & Crab Shack is exactly what you would expect to find in the heart of Memphis. Mr. Spanky’s barbeque is cooked in the old fashioned southern tradition. They place top choice meats in open and closed barbeque pits with hickory chips and charcoal, and cook them at low temperatures. Their pork shoulders and ribs are cooked for hours on end to get that fall off the bone tenderness and distinctive flavor. Home of the “lip smackin’, rib ticklin’, great tastin’ slow cooked bar-b-que” will have a grand re-opening weekend, with a kick-off event on Friday, Aug. 15 starting at 5:30 p.m. The grand opening will feature a special little piggy, prizes, a sampling of the menu, live music and kids will eat free all weekend long. Mr. Spanky invites you to pull up a chair, roll up your sleeves, and dig into the best southern barbeque in the area. For more information, call 570-296-8271 or stop into the restaurant, located at 240 US Route 6 in Milford, Wednesdays through Mondays between 11:30 a.m. and 10 p.m.