Downtown Willoughby turns up the twang this weekend as Double D’s Honky Tonk & Smokehouse opens in the former Brim/Hola Tacos spot at 3941 Erie St. The two-story operation puts a smokehouse on the ground floor and a line-dancing and live-music room upstairs, and the concept clearly hit a nerve, with more than 150 people signing up for line-dancing lessons within hours of the announcement. Owner Dustin Dykstra, who jumped back into the local restaurant scene earlier this year, is pitching the place as a loud, music-first barbecue joint rather than a quiet dinner house.
Dykstra plans a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, May 23, after months of renovations that followed his return to hospitality in February 2026. In an interview with Cleveland.com, he said, “I needed the noise of running restaurants to stop,” and described Double D’s as intentionally rowdy rather than formal.
Historic Block, Ready Kitchen
The two-level, roughly 8,000-square-foot building went up in 2016 and then sat empty for about 18 months before Dykstra signed a lease, according to city records. The City of Willoughby Design Review Board agenda notes an application for an illuminated wall sign at 3941 Erie St., and directory listings show the address previously housed Brim Kitchen + Brewery and Pulpo Beer Company, as reflected on TapHunter and CraftBeerMonkey.
Smokehouse Menu And Vibe
The plan downstairs is a wood-fired smokehouse turning out brisket, pulled pork, baby-back ribs, and other slow-smoked meats, served either on individual platters or family-style spreads. Upstairs will be all about the honky-tonk side of the personality, with a bar, stage, and walkout patio set up for live bands and line dances, a layout that aims to feed big crowds and then keep them on their feet, according to Cleveland Scene.
Design Flourishes And Early Buzz
Dykstra has leaned into the country-bar theme, using reclaimed wood, installing a DJ booth built from the cab of a Mack truck, and showing off two mirror-covered steer skulls that his mother crafted. The skulls were later christened Daisy and Duke in a social media naming contest. The reveal helped fuel the early buzz: more than 150 people signed up for line-dancing lessons within 12 hours of the announcement, and Dykstra told Cleveland.com that he is “really just a guy who likes to do fun s--t.”
Double D’s currently lists “Coming Soon” on its website, which displays the Erie Street address along with a contact email for hiring and updates. Dykstra says he wants the meat and the booze to stand on their own while the music keeps the room moving. For contact details and job information, see the Double D's website.
