Barbecue restaurant, steakhouse will merge.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

Citing the soft economy, longtime Eugene restaurateur Mike West on Monday said he's adjusting his business recipe. West said he'll move his barbecue restaurant away from downtown Eugene to his Franklin Boulevard steakhouse, combine the eateries and give them a new name.

West said he's merging West Bros. BBQ on Olive Street with River Ranch Steakhouse. He will reopen the consolidated restaurants next Tuesday as West Bros. River Ranch.

The move will provide a new home for the barbecue restaurant and give the 2-year-old steakhouse a fresh identity and menu, West said. "We feel that together (the two restaurants) will become even more viable," he said.

The 185-seat restaurant, with banquet facilities for up to 300 people, is next to the Quality Inn & Suites, near where Franklin Boulevard and Highway 99 enter Eugene from the south.

West will continue to operate Mona Lizza Ristorante & Bar next to the West Bros. BBQ building on Olive Street, plus 3 Square in south Eugene, and a catering business. For the time being, the former West Bros. BBQ spot will remain vacant, but West said he may open another eatery in that spot.

The slow economy and the popularity of late-night dining downtown are main reasons for moving West Bros. BBQ, West said. His eatery, popular with the lunch crowd, closes at 9 p.m. The restaurant hit a peak in 1995 when it served about 100,000 meals, West said. Last year, it served 70,000 meals, he said.

As part of the move, West said he'll cut 10 to 15 employees, most of them part-time servers.

West and two brothers, Jim and Phil West, started West Bros. BBQ in 1992. Two years ago, the brothers split up their business, with Jim and Phil taking Mucho Gusto Mexican Kitchen and Mike West assuming sole control of the downtown restaurants.

West said he is considering other restaurant ideas for the soon-to-be vacated dining room of West Bros. BBQ. To attract late-night diners, any new restaurant probably would stay open late, and have lower-priced dishes and casual service, he said.