Photo courtesy Big Whiskey's"This is now a part of our brand, and we won’t have a location without one going forward.”—Paul Sundy, co-founder of Big Whiskey's.
Culture
Behind Big Whiskey’s Backyard Concept
A new social space concept is satisfying the modern diner’s craving: doing something with friends and a drink in hand.
by Ren Bishop
Jan 2025
Thirty years ago, the patio revolutionized the hospitality industry. Before that, bars were bars and restaurants were restaurants, with very little fluid or flexible space between the two. Then, the patio was popularized, and with it, a third place for diners to gather, linger and spend, says Paul Sundy, co-founder of Big Whiskey’s.
In the ’90s, patios weren’t as ubiquitous as today. “Now, you can’t operate a restaurant without a patio,” Sundy says. “This is the new patio.”
Across the country, social gathering spaces with food and drink are exploding in popularity. In major metros, big brands like Top Golf and Chicken N Pickle are dominating markets, with large facilities, interactive spaces and priced-right pub fare. Big Whiskey’s is taking the trend and rolling it out to suburban markets with Whiskey’s Yard, part outdoor gaming space, part walk-up bar.
“Our customers love the interactive space in Whiskey’s Yard,” says Sundy. “Today’s customer, they’re okay with having a beer or a glass of wine at a restaurant with their young kids. They’re craving a place to relax and have a beer while interacting in person. We built a space that provides that interaction for all ages.”
Big Whiskey’s first experimented with the social gathering space at their Hoover, Alabama, location, throwing down some green space to give people a place to gather while waiting to be seated. The guests loved it, and in August 2024, the first Whiskey’s Yard in the Ozarks opened in Lebanon.
In its first 90 days, Whiskey’s Yard and its social space have had high sales and have stayed booked and busy. Patrons in Lebanon reserve the Yard three times a week on average for private events, and for the additional square footage, the concept has more than proven ROI.
Now, every planned future Big Whiskey’s location has a Whiskey’s Yard, including the Neosho location, opening spring 2025.
“We’re adding a Yard to the plans of Neosho because within the first 90 days, we know that this iteration of Big Whiskey’s has staying power,” says Sundy. “It was adapt or die, and the Yard model is an investment that is paying off. This is now a part of our brand, and we won’t have a location without one going forward.”
Take a look at more patios and hangout spaces over on 417 Magazine.
