Chef B.J. Smith is following his heart in his plan to open Smitty’s Original Coney Island, a hot dog- and sandwich-focused restaurant and bar at The Mill shopping center in Vancouver’s North Garrison Heights neighborhood.

Smith is closely hewing to the menu and feel of the original Smitty’s — a restaurant operated for years by his parents in South Bend, Ind., where he grew up.

Delores and Bob Smith were married 53 years, and a good chunk of that time was spent running the popular eatery, said B.J. Smith, who credits his father with suggesting opening a Vancouver version of Smitty’s Original Coney Island.

To make way for Smitty’s, Smith will close his Smokehouse Provisions at 8058 E. Mill Plain Blvd., which opened in November 2016. Smokehouse Provisions’ last day will be March 24. Smitty’s will open April 1.

“We don’t have to go through the rigmarole of completely starting from scratch,” Smith said, adding that the current restaurant staff would be retained at Smitty’s Original Coney Island.