12 Bones in Kingsport to change name

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Here’s the story, which notes the displeasure of the Asheville 12 Bones folks:

KINGSPORT — The popular 12 Bones restaurant in downtown Kingsport will soon get a new name, expand its space, and increase its offerings.

Businessman Doug Beatty and his business partner, Jeff Lane, opened 12 Bones Smokehouse as a franchise of an Asheville restaurant in September 2007 at 242 E. Main St., across from the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.

The restaurant specializes in ribs and pulled pork and chicken, as well as a unique offering of sides. It’s been a success. Now Beatty and Lane want to take the restaurant a step further.

“I just really wanted to do a Cajun-style music hall that served barbecue and played bluegrass and blues. I like the feel of everybody eating and drinking and music and dancing. And so when we had the opportunity to buy the building next door, we did,” said Beatty.

Beatty acquired the adjacent building from local businessman Bob Feathers, and he plans to expand the barbecue restaurant and begin hosting live music, such as bluegrass, blues and country bands.

The expansion plans didn’t sit too well with the 12 Bones franchise owners in Asheville.

“They were concerned that our concept had outgrown their concept,” Beatty said. “And so we’re just mutually agreeing not to be 12 Bones anymore.”

He expects to use the 12 Bones name for a few more months, until a new name is chosen and publicized.