Indigo Smoke Returns to Maplewood

South Orange resident and Indigo Smoke co-owner Lance Knowling said that after the barbecue restaurant shut the doors on its Springfield Avenue location late last year, its return to the township was always a matter of time.

“We closed the restaurant on Springfield Avenue, but our intention was always to stay in Maplewood,” Knowling said.

Since 2002, Knowling and his partners have offered a high-minded take on classic Kansas City barbecue at their Montclair restaurant. Born in KC, Knowling first acquired his cooking skills in his mother’s kitchen, and further honed his technique studying at El Centro College in Dallas and working as a saucier at a Four Seasons hotel.

He’s happy to be bringing his singular barbecue sensibility to Maplewood Village, with Indigo Kitchen and Bar set to open at 177 Maplewood Ave., hopefully, this Spring.

“It’s a great neighborhood,” he said, explaining that he believes foot traffic—particularly from train commuters—will drive customers to the coming location. “People [are going to] say ‘I know there’s something over there.’ That’s a difficult thing to compete with.”

He praised the part of Springfield Avenue where Indigo Smoke used to be [and where juice bar HLS will soon open] but said he felt it was a destination for people, and wanted to be around other like-minded businesses.

“That area of Springfield Avenue is very nice,” he said, adding “but I don’t think it’s at the forefront of people’s thoughts to go there.”

Operating in the Village means being among a number of established restaurants and near two other locations with liquor licenses (their Montclair restaurant is counter service-only). That isn’t a problem, Knowling said. They plan on having a larger bar than the Springfield location, and believe they are providing an experience that complements existing bar restaurants Cent’Anni and the Gate.

“[The new restaurant] will be Village friendly,” Knowling said. “I think people will have great choices.”