Restaurant Closes at Springfield Town Center

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- After opening with great fanfare last year, Wood Ranch BBQ Grill has closed its doors at Springfield Town Center.

The restaurant closed Sept. 9, according to a recording when you call the Springfield location. The recording apologizes for the closing of the eatery and asks that you visit any of their 16 locations if you're in Southern California. The Springfield location was the first location for the company outside of California.

The restaurant's name has already been taken off of the Springfield Town Center dining directory.

On Yelp, Wood Ranch's Springfield location earned three stars out of five from diners. "Elite" Yelpers dissed the eatery for everything from the lack of employee training, slow service, overpriced menu and mediocre food.

Barbecue lovers have a lot of choices in Northern Virginia -- with lower prices that don't rely on a wait staff -- including Rockland's, Famous Dave's, Red Hot & Blue, Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Oklahoma Joe's to name a few.

Eric Anders, Wood Ranch BBQ CEO, told Washington Business Journal that lower than expected sales was the reason the restaurant closed. Anders founded the first Wood Ranch BBQ Grill in 1992 with Ofer Shemtov in Moorpark, Calif.

PHOTO of Wood Ranch BBQ Springfield Town Center from June 2015