Restaurant 'Still Waiting' to Open

There's still no word on when Old Carolina Barbecue will open in Strongsville.

The restaurant at 14783 Pearl Road had initially planned to start serving by December, but an undisclosed problem has kept the doors closed.

"Still waiting," Ray Hull, general manager of the Strongsville store, said Thursday. "There's no timetable (for opening) yet."

A sign on the door now greets would-be diners, advising that the restaurant is not yet open.

Building Commissioner Tony Biondillo said the building suffered "a major electrical malfunction" while the restaurant was under construction.

"They blew out a major, major component" that had to be manufactured before it could be replaced, Biondillo said. "They're ready to open, but they've got to wait for that."

Hull said Old Carolina will still be participating in , a fundraiser for Arts in Strongsville set for Saturday, Jan 26, at the Ehrnfelt Recreation Center.

Plans for the restaurant to take over part of the former Bally's building were approved in early July. It will seat about 120 people.

The store is still hiring. Apply online at jobsbbq.com.

It will be the seventh Old Carolina location and the second in Cuyahoga County, following the opening of a store in Lyndhurst in May.

• We post all our business news to our Facebook page. Like us on Facebook to see when new stories publish.