A Dallas address that was home to one of the city's top restaurants has a new tenant: The space at 601 N. Haskell Ave. previously occupied by the acclaimed Petra and the Beast will become a new location of Baker's Ribs, the small Dallas barbecue chain.

A Baker's spokesperson confirmed that they would be opening a restaurant there in early 2024. "Hopefully by January," he said.

The opening marks a return to central Dallas for Baker's, who'd previously had a location in Deep Ellum for 31 years. They closed that location at 3033 Main St. in 2018 after selling off the property; it's now home to a bank.

Founded in 1988 by pit master Joe Duncan, Baker's is known for its St. Louis Cut pork ribs and brisket, smoked over hickory and served with warmed BBQ sauce. Sides include herbed dill potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, fries, and fried okra.

They're also noted for their fried pies, sold out of a separate stand inside the restaurant, in options such as chocolate, pecan, peach, and cherry, plus savory options like brisket.

Baker's started out on Buckner Boulevard, before relocating to Commerce Street in Deep Ellum, then moving again to Main Street. There was also once a Baker's on Greenville Avenue; that location moved to Northwest Highway in 2013.

When they shuttered Deep Ellum, they expressed their desire to return to the area, stating that they were seeking a location in the same area near downtown. Mission accomplished.

Duncan said in an email that he also liked that it was near the Baylor Medical Center complex where it is sure to become a lunch destination for hospital and medical personnel.

There are currently six locations, with four in DFW: Northwest Highway, Mesquite, Garland, and Weatherford. (A location in Grapevine was forced to close after a fire in 2019.) Joe Duncan also has a side project called Kearney's Feed Yard, a sprawling backyard restaurant in Sunnyvale that opened in 2019.

Petra chef-owner Misti Norris left Haskell Avenue in August after five years in the space to find bigger digs. She moved to 1901 Abrams Rd., a space previously occupied by Lakewood Smokehouse.

So Petra moved into a BBQ place, and now a BBQ place takes over the old Petra space.