With nearly twice the dining space and a new kitchen capable of producing an expanded menu, Firebelly Restaurant and Lounge opened Super Bowl Sunday in Monkey Junction.

Firebelly owner Dan Boyle moved the business from its longtime downtown address, 265 N. Front St., to The Village at Myrtle Grove Shopping Center, 5511 Carolina Beach Road.

At 2,700 square feet, the new location provides an additional 1,200 square feet of seating space over the former downtown store, Boyle said. The dining room hosts 100 chairs; the patio, including a covered bar, holds 60 people, he said.

Concerning menu changes, Boyle said, “This gave me the chance to really design the kitchen the way I wanted to from the get go.”

Firebelly will maintain its southwestern leanings and budget prices, but entrée specials, more fresh ingredients and weekend brunch, which may begin next week, will be served, Boyle said. The Johnson & Wales-trained chef said he has been working with bison, alligator, beef ribs and fresh-fish tacos.

Although Monkey Junction has experienced significant restaurant growth in the past year, Boyle said he began eyeing the area six to seven years ago. He opened the downtown Firebelly in 1999.

“The reason I ultimately decided I wanted to leave downtown is I consider downtown a dying market,” he said.

Boyle said he sees a “young, very uncontrolled, unsafe market” patronizing downtown in the evenings.

“The crowd that used to support downtown, which is the 25 and up crowd, they’re no longer patrons there at nighttime,” Boyle said, noting that he thinks that market was drawn away from downtown by north Wilmington commercial development.

Boyle said he sees potential for more business growth in Monkey Junction.

“This was still untapped, and there’s still need,” he said of his decision to tap the area. “This is a town growing and will continue to grow – I consider Monkey Junction a town at this point.”