Why fix something that's not broken?
That's Scot Drinkard's philosophy now that he's the new owner of BJ's Restaurant and Lounge in Linn.
Drinkard took over BJ's, at 108 The Square, on March 2 after former owner Dale Jaegers retired.
Drinkard, who owns Spectators Sports Bar and Grill in Jefferson City, said he will keep the popular bar and restaurant the same except for a few changes.
"I don't feel like you need to change anything that's working, and it's working real well here," he said. "We just want to do a little tweaking on some things, but that's all we'll do."
One of the biggest changes customers may notice is the upcoming expansion. Drinkard purchased the 4,500-square-foot building next to BJ's with plans to turn it into a non-smoking sports bar.
Customers will be able to enter the restaurant from the non-smoking sports bar. The smoking bar toward the front of BJ's will remain, Drinkard said.
Renovations will begin in April or May, and Drinkard hopes to open it in September.
Along with the expansion, Drinkard plans to modernize the restaurant's look, installing new carpet and repainting.
BJ's will not close during the renovations, Drinkard added.
Drinkard will also make some behind-the-scenes changes, like adding a computer system for inventory and orders.
The new owner plans to tweak the menu slightly.
"A lot of people are excited that we're going to keep the name, and we'll change the menu very little," he said. "Everything we do, we'll try to make it better - better quality and better food for everybody."
Drinkard's management team has been working with BJ's staff for the last month. Jaegers will also work at BJ's throughout this month to help with the transition, Drinkard added.
"It was just like clockwork, and I think that helped staff because they know that we know what we're doing," Drinkard said. "It was comforting that somebody was going to come in and keep the legacy going."
BJ's is in a prime location in Linn, right off Main Street and near State Technical College of Missouri, Drinkard said.
"Linn is a small town, but it's getting bigger, especially with State Tech growing as fast as it is," he said. "It's a neat community, and everybody has taken us in."
Drinkard also recently purchased a bar he rebranded as The Office Bar on West McCarty Street in Jefferson City.
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