Yes…The wait is over…Saigon Pho, the restaurant that is in the former spot of BJ’s Soul Food, has opened.

Homage To BJ’s

But first, an homage to BJ's founder and former building owner, Barbara Sims, who ran her soul food restaurant for 47 years. Founded while she was a nurse at the VA Hospital in Montrose, Barbara worked with her mother, Thelma, who made the donuts in the morning, which brought in $50 day, according to this article capturing her history.

Named for herself, Barbara Joan, and her daughter, Brenda Joyce, who worked on the weekends and then full time, the family added fish fry to the menu, and then chicken wings, oxtails, fried chicken, corn bread, potato salad, mac and cheese, three-layer cakes, and more. The restaurant served as a community destination, where 75% of their orders were takeout, Barbara told the newspaper.

Barbara sold the building in December 2025, which was listed for $1.1 million. She said she originally bought it out of foreclosure, and that the restaurant that had been there was Greek.

Barbara cited her age and health as the reason why she sold. She owns 6 other properties in Beacon, and told the newspaper that she intends to stay busy maintaining those. “When you go to bed at night," she told the reporter, "you need something to make you want to get up the next day. Some of my basements need to be cleaned out!”

The first night of the soft opening, the soft lights glowed from inside the new restaurant painted in a smooth shade of gray as the storefront begins its new history.

Saigon Pho’s Soft Opening - Expanding From Cornwall

The “Now Hiring!” sign hung in the window for weeks as workers transformed the space inside. A tipster spotted a worker wearing a Pho Rush t-shirt from Cornwall and sent it into A Little Beacon Blog to investigate if the Vietnamese restaurant from across the river was opening in Beacon.

Indeed, an employee named Phat confirmed to ALBB when we ducked in on Friday to pick up their first menu. “We are so excited to be here in Beacon,” Phat exclaimed. “For our soft opening, we really want to focus on what we do the best. Then go to more vegetable later.”

The menu is opening up with Pho Chicken (Pho Ga), which is steamed chicken in their signature beef broth with rice noodles. Pho Steak (Pho Tai), which is thinly sliced rare steak in their signature beeth broth with rice noodles, but cooked steak is possible. Pho Brisket (Pho Chin) and Pho Beef Meatball (Pho Bo Vien), and even Pho Shrimp (Pho Tom) are starting entrees on the menu.

“Phogeddaboutit!!” cheered Emily of Artisan Wine and Dave the Butcher. “I’m can’t wait to have their Vietnamese coffee. I haven’t had it in so long.” Also known as Ca Phe Viet Nam, Vietnamese coffee is served hot or iced with rich flavor and sweetened condensed milk.

Steamed Dumplings are available served with Saigon Pho’s signature sauce. “We make our dumpling sauce with soy sauce, rice vinegar and shallot,” Phat told ALBB. “We will have our Banh Mi Vietnamese sandwich in Phase 2.”

This menu is To Be Continued. and seating is open now…