Our Passion
A little backstory
My wife Michelle and I had a dream to open our own restaurant ever since we met in 2008. We didn't have a clear vision at first, tossing around ideas of burgers or Italian food. But our passion for food and the desire to create something of our own drove us forward. We spent years doing research and learning about the restaurant industry, slowly formulating our plan.
Then, disaster struck in 2018 when hurricane Florence hit our home in Jacksonville, NC. We lost everything in the flooding and had to find temporary shelter with my ex-in-laws in Yadkinville, NC. It was during this challenging time that I bought a smoker and began experimenting with smoking food. And that's when our direction started to shift.
We fell in love with smoking, spending countless hours each week perfecting our techniques and learning about different flavors and ingredients. It became clear to us that barbecue was our passion and what we wanted to share with the world.
In 2019, we finally settled in Boonville, NC, and I started a job. But then, in March 2020, I lost my job due to the COVID pandemic. This setback led me to Bobby Shapiro, who owned two Meineke locations, and I worked with him for a while. We had conversations about opening a restaurant together, and I began bringing leftovers to work, gathering feedback from coworkers, and expanding our reach.
During this time, I also started catering work parties, gaining more experience, and building connections in the industry. However, just when things were looking up, another disaster struck in 2022. I was diagnosed with a rare condition called Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, which nearly took my life.
But from this near-death experience, my wife and I realized that life was too short to wait any longer. We decided it was time to pursue our dream and open our BBQ food truck. I took on jobs at two local fast-food places to further expand my knowledge of the industry, and during the past year and a half, I was involved in opening two new stores, gaining valuable insights into buildouts, financials, and profits.
And now, finally, today is the day we bring our dreams and passions to life. It has been a long and challenging journey, with many setbacks and hardships, but we have persevered. Our BBQ food truck is the culmination of years of hard work, research, and a deep love for food. We are ready to share our delicious smoked dishes with the world and make our mark in the culinary industry.
Then, disaster struck in 2018 when hurricane Florence hit our home in Jacksonville, NC. We lost everything in the flooding and had to find temporary shelter with my ex-in-laws in Yadkinville, NC. It was during this challenging time that I bought a smoker and began experimenting with smoking food. And that's when our direction started to shift.
We fell in love with smoking, spending countless hours each week perfecting our techniques and learning about different flavors and ingredients. It became clear to us that barbecue was our passion and what we wanted to share with the world.
In 2019, we finally settled in Boonville, NC, and I started a job. But then, in March 2020, I lost my job due to the COVID pandemic. This setback led me to Bobby Shapiro, who owned two Meineke locations, and I worked with him for a while. We had conversations about opening a restaurant together, and I began bringing leftovers to work, gathering feedback from coworkers, and expanding our reach.
During this time, I also started catering work parties, gaining more experience, and building connections in the industry. However, just when things were looking up, another disaster struck in 2022. I was diagnosed with a rare condition called Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, which nearly took my life.
But from this near-death experience, my wife and I realized that life was too short to wait any longer. We decided it was time to pursue our dream and open our BBQ food truck. I took on jobs at two local fast-food places to further expand my knowledge of the industry, and during the past year and a half, I was involved in opening two new stores, gaining valuable insights into buildouts, financials, and profits.
And now, finally, today is the day we bring our dreams and passions to life. It has been a long and challenging journey, with many setbacks and hardships, but we have persevered. Our BBQ food truck is the culmination of years of hard work, research, and a deep love for food. We are ready to share our delicious smoked dishes with the world and make our mark in the culinary industry.
Our Mission
Bring our community together through amazing BBQ and the core values of love, compassion, and respect.
Our team
Using OG BBQ's dedicated team of talented and passionate individuals, we provide an irresistible barbecue experience that will keep you enjoying every mouth-watering bite!.
Values of our employees
- Bringing the community together through BBQ!
- Passion for smoking meat... not meth
- Collaborative teamwork
- Attention to detail