Dog-Friendly Restaurant Opening Soon in Concord

Construction on a new dog-friendly restaurant is almost complete at the Willow Pass Shopping Center in Concord, California, where crews are putting the finishing touches on the Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar. The new restaurant will be one of five eating establishments in town that welcome canines at their outdoor tables, according to bringfido.com.  

It will also be the first Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar location in Northern California.
 
Owner Chris Simms conceived the concept for the chain of restaurants about 10 years ago. Inspired by the rustic aesthetics of Rocky Mountain lodges, he opened the “Lazy Dog Café” in Huntington Beach, California. Since then, his chain of restaurants has rebranded and expanded to 12 locations in California. The Concord location will be number 13. 

"We look forward to becoming part of the community and building relationships with local breweries and organizations in the area," Simms told Patch.

The 7,818 square foot space in Concord will feature a 1,322 square foot patio where dogs can enjoy the warmth of a fire pit with their owner. The menu will contain American-themed meals, while the bar will serve beers from local breweries such Drake's, 21st Amendment, and Anchor.

The restaurant is replacing the El Torito Restaurant that used to reside in the space that sits on the corner of Interstate Highway 680 and Willow Pass Road. Project Development Services Inc. was hired to renovate the restaurant and give it a ski lodge meets microbrewery ambiance.  

Crews expect to conclude the renovation by the end of October 2013. A company spokesperson said the restaurant will open for business in mid-November. 

Do you think Concord needs more dog-friendly spaces? Tell us in the comments.