Fast Casual: Dickey's BBQ Pit opens another San Antonio unit, launches charitable foundation

Dickey's Barbecue Pit, ranked No. 1 in FastCasual's Top 100 Movers and Shakers, has expanded deeper into San Antonio, Texas and launched  a charitable foundation, according to a company press release.

The chain opened its fifth San Antonio unit, which is owned and operated by Agustin Tellez, Jr. and Isela Chamberlain. In celebration, guests will participate in Thirsty Thursdays, Philanthropy Fridays, singer/songwriter Saturdays, and kids-eat-free-all-day Sundays over the next three weeks. Diners can enter to win a free year of barbecue by joining in the conversation on all social media outlets, with #1FreeYearofBBQ.

Barbecue, boots and badges

As Dickey's expands, the brand is focused on being "intensely local" with the launch of its charitable arm, "Barbecue, Boots and Badges," said Maurine Dickey, a former Dallas County commissioner, who created the foundation in partnership with Frito-Lay.

The foundation's goal is to offer in-store discounts and host fundraisers for uniformed officers at all locations by the end of 2016.

"There are not enough services for first responders, and we hope that Barbecue, Boots & Badges can offer a safety net by not only providing financial resources but informational resources as well," Dickey said "We connect many with counseling services, federal grants and other organizations with similar missions."