Dickey's Barbecue Pit launches a third location in Virginia today, as Terry and Lisa Henshaw open the largest quick-serve barbecue restaurant in the country, at 7037 A Forest Hill Ave. in Richmond.

"Opening our own restaurant is a dream of ours, while bringing Dickey's Barbecue to Richmond makes perfect sense,” franchise owner Dean Siracusa says. “The community needs great barbecue and Dickey's is the perfect fit for this area."

This is the 163rd location nationwide for the barbecue chain that celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.

"It's exciting to finally open the doors to our restaurant after months of hard work," Terry Henshaw says. "The journey with Dickey's Barbecue has been very rewarding so far, and I know it will only develop as Richmond becomes familiar with the consistent quality of the brand."

Dickey's is growing at a rapid rate with a 38 percent growth rate over the past two years. Dickey's began franchising in 1994.

The first Dickey's Barbecue opened in 1941 in Dallas. The original location is still open for business and Dickey's Barbecue is still owned and operated by the Dickey Family.