Barbecue loyalists on West Seventh are about to get a side of take-and-bake pizza with their ribs. Famous Dave's is retooling its West Seventh restaurant in St. Paul to make room for a Papa Murphy's, turning part of the longtime barbecue spot into a two-brand location. Management will hand over about one quarter of the existing dining footprint to a separate Papa Murphy's storefront while keeping Famous Dave's dining and catering operations on site. The move is the clearest local sign yet of a national push by the chain's parent to shrink traditional restaurant footprints and pair brands under one roof. For neighborhood diners it means more takeout options alongside the smoked meats they already know.
Where it's happening
The change centers on the Famous Dave's at 1930 West Seventh in Highland Park, where Papa Murphy's now lists a "coming soon" 1930A West 7th Street location on its site. As first reported by the Business Journals, Famous Dave's plans to reconfigure roughly a quarter of the restaurant for the pizza shop. Neither chain has published an official opening date for the St. Paul spot.
What the joint restaurant will look like
Under the co-branded model the two concepts will operate more like neighbors than roommates: separate storefronts, distinct signage and staff areas, but a shared kitchen and storage behind the scenes. That layout is designed to preserve each brand's identity while lowering costs for operators. Restaurant Business reported that Famous Dave's intends to keep dining rooms mostly independent while allowing customers to move between the two concepts.
Why the company is testing co-brands
Company executives say the idea grew from a long shift toward takeout and catering, which has left many large dining rooms underused. Famous Dave's parent has been testing smaller prototypes and ghost-kitchen partnerships to better match current demand and to reduce buildout costs. In a company release via PRWeb, the brand outlined a prototype that trims average unit square footage and lowers initial construction expenses for franchisees.
When to expect changes
Industry coverage says the rollout will be gradual, with pilot co-branded units planned over the coming year as the company evaluates the model. FSR Magazine notes the parent company has a small slate of co-branded sites slated for 2026 and additional locations in development. For now, Papa Murphy's lists the St. Paul address as "coming soon" while Famous Dave's remains open as buildout work proceeds.
