Famous Dave’s is returning to North Atlanta next week, this time with a smaller-format restaurant in Johns Creek.

The barbecue chain will open Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 10710 State Bridge Road, Suite 150, in State Bridge Crossing. The address carries an Alpharetta mailing address, but the shopping center sits within Johns Creek.

The new restaurant will serve the brand’s familiar lineup of ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken, burgers and family-style barbecue platters, along with takeout and catering. The space is about 2,800 square feet and will seat roughly 30 diners, making it considerably smaller than the full-service Famous Dave’s restaurants many customers may remember.

That more compact setup reflects how the brand is approaching its return to Georgia. The Johns Creek restaurant will combine counter service with dine-in seating and a strong emphasis on takeout, family meals and catering rather than relying on a large dining room.

The opening also marks a return, not a first arrival.

Famous Dave’s previously operated several restaurants in metro Atlanta, including an Alpharetta location near North Point. The company closed its three Atlanta-area restaurants in 2008 during a period of weak sales and broader economic pressure. The former Alpharetta restaurant later became another dining concept.

Nearly 18 years later, a new franchise group is bringing the brand back.

The Johns Creek restaurant is being led by Derek S. Scott, Vetra Stephens and Lord B. Degraffinreid, who have described themselves as longtime fans of Famous Dave’s from their years living in the Midwest. They plan to use the State Bridge Road location as a starting point for broader expansion elsewhere in Georgia.

For Johns Creek diners, the location is particularly convenient.

State Bridge Crossing already includes Tim Hortons, Sparkle dog care and other neighborhood businesses, and sits along one of the city’s busiest east-west corridors. The shopping center draws residents from Johns Creek as well as nearby Alpharetta, making it a logical place for a restaurant built around takeout and family-sized meals.

The barbecue market has also changed considerably since Famous Dave’s last operated here.

North Atlanta now has a larger collection of independent barbecue restaurants, regional chains and fast-casual concepts competing for customers. Famous Dave’s will be returning with national name recognition, but into a market where diners have more choices than they did in 2008.

That may help explain the smaller footprint. Rather than recreating the large suburban restaurants of the chain’s earlier Atlanta years, the new Johns Creek location is designed around convenience and lower overhead while keeping the menu that made the brand known.

The opening is now close enough to put a firm date on the calendar.

Famous Dave’s will begin serving customers Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 10710 State Bridge Road, Suite 150, in Johns Creek.