A prominent Massachusetts Street storefront soon will get a major overhaul.

The two buildings that house Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse, 719 Mass., will get new facades by this spring.

Owner Bob Schumm said the building that houses the southern portion of the barbecue restaurant will have its exterior restored to a look similar to the 1930s design that the building had when it was a photography studio.

But the space won’t be for pictures, but rather pitchers. Schumm said Buffalo Bob’s would move out of that part of the building to make way for Dynamite Saloon, a Western-themed bar that will be operated by Schumm’s company.

“Last year I went through a very interesting year,” said Schumm, who opened the barbecue restaurant in 1977. “KU won the Final Four and the Orange Bowl, and I had a business with no TVs in it. I’m a slow learner, I guess, but I’ve finally got it.”

The new bar will have TVs and also will have a grill to serve sandwiches and appetizers.

The barbecue restaurant will continue to operate in the northernmost building. Schumm, though, said that building also will receive an exterior makeover.

But historic preservation guidelines for downtown won’t allow that building to carry a 1930s look because that would not be an accurate representation of how the building ever appeared.

Instead, it will have a more modern design featuring limestone materials and a new exterior balcony.

The project — designed by Lawrence-based Hernly Associates — already has won the necessary historic preservation approvals from city officials.

Work is expected to begin on Monday, with the bulk of the exterior work taking place in April.

The barbecue restaurant will remain open during the project.