Fast casual chain Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants Inc. announced the opening of its 500th location slated for Thursday, April 2 at 11 a.m. in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Fast casual chain Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants Inc. announced the opening of its 500th location slated for Thursday, April 2 at 11 a.m. in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, a milestone for the family-owned barbecue chain. Chairman Roland Dickey Sr. will appear at the Wauwatosa opening to celebrate the occasion.

"It's hard to believe the one-room barbecue joint my grandfather founded is now a national chain with 500 locations," said Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "I'm so proud of what our team has accomplished in building our brand to where we are today."

On Thursday the first 50 dine-in guests will receive gift cards ranging from $5 to $50. On Friday, Dickey will be at the 500th location celebration and provide 100 copies of Mr. Dickey's Barbecue Cookbook. The celebration will offer $2 pulled pork barbecue sandwiches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. One guest will win a $500 gift card and three winners will receive free barbecue for an entire year. On Saturday, the store offers all day merchandise giveaways, the announcement said.