Brad Harper

Montgomery Advertiser

Downtown barbecue fixture Dreamland is about to leave one of the most iconic restaurant locations in Montgomery, and the nearby Railyard Brewing Co. has already closed.

But Bob Parker, managing partner of both restaurants, sees the situation as a glass half full.

Dreamland will take over the former Railyard spot at 12 W. Jefferson St. later this month. While the Railyard restaurant is gone, Parker said brewmaster Jamie Ray will stick around to serve up locally brewed beer.

“We’ll be Dreamland through and through,” Parker said. “That’s who we are. It just happens that in that space we’ll also brew Railyard Brewing Co. beer.”

Parker settled on the idea to move after a series of Dreamland pit fires, including one a year ago that sparked a dramatic jet of flame above the city’s skyline. No one was injured and the restaurant was only closed a few days, but it caused alarm in the crowded Alley development, which includes residential lofts.

More: Dreamland reopens after fire

“The pit itself works fine. The exhaust pipes are compromised,” Parker said. “We feel like it’s in the best interest of the community, our employees, our guests, the people who live up above us … it’s best for us to be in a building where we can have a traditional pork pit. The best way to do that is to build one in a location that’s already existing.”

They’ve already started doing that around the corner at the former home of Railyard, which closed Saturday after four-plus years in business.

Employees have known about the plans for a while and many of the ones who didn’t want to make the move have already landed jobs at other restaurants around town, Parker said. Only “one or two” will be unemployed after the move, which should happen around May 18.

Meanwhile, Dreamland is still open and will remain open until they’re just a few days away from relocating.

Once it’s gone, there’ll be room for something new at the current Dreamland spot, an iconic location under a water tower at the entrance to the Alley, across the street from Riverwalk Stadium. The property’s managers already have a few ideas.

More: Ready to serve: Restaurants expect rush

“We’re kicking around a lot of different ideas about whether we’re going to do something internally, as well as reaching out to (potential tenants),” said broker Jake Kyser of Kyser Property Management Co. “It’ll definitely be something that complements the Alley and the entertainment district, and blends with what’s going on down there.”

Parker said he’s “passionate” about Dreamland’s food and optimistic that people who have eaten there for years will take the time to walk about a block to the new location.

But he also reflected Tuesday on the restaurant’s eight years as the hyper-visible cornerstone of the Alley project, and how he has watched the area grow since then.

“Eight years ago, there was no infrastructure in the Alley,” Parker said. “The (Renaissance Hotel) had just opened.

“We’re going to miss being basically the focal point of the Alley.”

An annual cornhole tournament scheduled for Saturday at Railyard will go on as planned, with Railyard beer available at the event.