New name, busier location for barbecue restaurant

The food and fun aren’t changing for a popular local restaurant, but the location and name are.

Boots Q’n Boogie in Waubeka is relocating to a popular corner in Belgium, and owners Kris and Peter Raymond are all in.

The business has been renamed to Boots BBQ and Catering to better reflect what the business does, Kris said.

The Raymonds’ lease was up at the end of April at Waubeka Fireman’s Hall on Center Street, and Kris said the new spot should be a better location for business.

“We’re right off the highway. It’s going to bring more traffic,” she said.

Working with the Waubeka Fire Department was great, she said, but the location for a restaurant was “a little off the beaten path.”

Boots BBQ and Catering is now at 117 S. Royal Ave. in the south half of the former gas station that has housed a couple of Mexican restaurants the past several years. Game N’ Repair leases the other half.

The Raymonds, along with their son Keith Marshall, who had worked as a general manager at a different restaurant, are in the process of remodeling the interior and installing new kitchen equipment and lighting.

They plan to open in mid-April and are already getting inquiries about their restaurant. People want to know if they will be able to come inside and eat. They can, Kris said, or sit outside or take orders to go.

“That’s probably one of the biggest questions we’ve had, if people could come in and sit down and eat,” she said.

“We will do catering and the restaurant will be open for business during regular hours so you can come in and eat.”

That was the initial plan for the business in Waubeka, but Kris said there wasn’t enough traffic to sustain it.

In Belgium, patio dining will be offered and may be expanded.

“We have the nice canopy from when the gas station was there. We had been toying with the idea of a car hop. We’re just going to get the doors open” and see if the public has an appetite for it, Kris said.

The inside of the restaurant can seat about 50 people, she said.

“It will be fast and casual so you’ll order at the counter,” Kris said.

The ambiance will be shaped by a music theme with “lots of cows and pigs,” Kris said.

“We want it to feel cozy, relaxing and family friendly,” Kris said.

The Raymonds, who in 2005 founded   the Paramount Music Association to keep the story of the Paramount record label alive through blues events, are also planning to incorporate that passion into their new location.

The Waubeka spot offered live music and the Belgium location plans to feature musicians.

“We will, eventually (have music). We don’t want to give that up,” Kris said.

The building has a drive-through window, and while that service won’t be offered, Kris said, they may take orders at the window.

Peter, who used to run Raymond’s Auto Body Shop in Cedarburg, is leaving his job in quality control at Auto Safety Center next door to his old business in order to focus on the restaurant venture.

Hours are still being determined, but Kris said clubs and special events are welcome.

The menu features BBQ meat that is smoked for different lengths of time depending on the style. Brisket and pork get smoked overnight, Kris said.

Homemade and other sauces will be offered but not be put on the meat.

“We want you to taste the meat,” Kris said.

The restaurant adds to Belgium’s growing cluster of eateries at or near the corner of Main Street and Royal Avenue (Highway LL).

“We are Belgium residents. We know that we want more stuff in Belgium, so we get it,” she said.

The Belgium location allows the Raymonds to keep pursuing their passion.

“We’ve met so many great people, and Peter makes a mean brisket,” Kris said.

“We don’t know what to expect, so we’re planning for twice what we normally do and we’re hoping it will be even more than that.”