A local barbecue chain with locations in Shockoe Bottom and Short Pump is headed north for its third eatery.

Shawn and Cynthia Gregory are opening their third Halligan Bar and Grill at 10180 Lakeridge Parkway. They opened the first of their firefighter-themed restaurants in 2008 at 3 North 17th St. and later added a spot in West Broad Village at 2451 Old Brick Road.

Shawn Gregory said he wasn’t looking to open another restaurant.

That was until last fall when Gregory said he received a flier from Blackwood Development Co. in search of a barbecue concept for its Northcross Center.

“I’ve always been a fan of Green Top,” Gregory said of the outdoor sports store that anchors the shopping center. “My original conversation was to have a mobile food stop there.”

Gregory eventually agreed to sign a five-year lease for 850 square feet at the shopping center near the Home Depot. He’s also following through on his thought for a food cart, which will set up at the other end of the center near Green Top.

“With the two points of sale out there, we thought it would be a cash-lucrative operation,” Greogry said.

Gregory said the Ashland Halligan will serve breakfast and coffee to attract early morning construction workers. He plans to open in Ashland in late May or early June.

It will cost less than $50,000 to set up both the cart and the brick-and-mortar spot, Gregory said. He’s reinvesting cash generated by his other locations for the expansion.

Halligan’s pulled pork, beef brisket and chicken barbecue will be made at the Short Pump location and delivered daily to the Ashland site.

The restaurant is named for the halligan bar, a tool used by firefighters to break down doors. Gregory worked as a firefighter for more than 20 years with Henrico County before retiring to go into the food industry.

Gregory already has a fourth location on his mind and said the next Halligan will most likely land outside of Richmond.

“I’m looking east of town in the Williamsburg area,” he said.