A Charleston-based barbecue joint with a location in Greenville is expanding into the Atlanta market.
Pitmaster John Lewis is opening Lewis Barbecue’s third Southern outpost, set to launch in Atlanta’s Piedmont Heights neighborhood at Ansley Mall, 1544 Piedmont Ave. NE, in summer 2025, according to a news release.
The opening adds to Lewis’ growing restaurant portfolio, which includes Lewis Barbecue and Rancho Lewis in Charleston and Lewis Barbecue in Greenville, the release stated.
Located near the Atlanta Beltline at Ansley Mall, a Selig Enterprises’ property and a longtime neighborhood institution, the restaurant will feature the pitmaster’s signature central Texas-style barbecue, offering his brisket, honky tonk music, laid-back vibes and dedicated staff to the city’s bustling food scene, the release stated.
Construction is underway at the space to accommodate Lewis Barbecue’s unique set up, which boasts a large smokehouse with custom-made pits, expansive indoor and outdoor dining areas, and Lewis’ signature barbecue service line, where guests queue up for his award-winning brisket, pork spareribs, pulled pork, turkey, and hot guts sausage along with a wide selection of sides, snacks and drinks, the release stated.
Related: Behind this restaurant’s ‘sophisticated’ Asian fare in NoMo in Charleston
Related: Why tourism’s strong rebound is a big boon to Charleston residents
The opening of Lewis Barbecue Atlanta will come nearly a decade after the launch of Lewis Barbecue’s first brick-and-mortar location in Charleston, which put Lewis on the map as one of the leaders in the barbecue community, the release stated. Building off his success in South Carolina, Lewis looks forward to opening a restaurant in another notable food destination in the Southeast.
“I’ve had my sights set on Atlanta for a long time and when we found the right space, my partners and I jumped at it,” said Lewis in the release. “The city is filled with amazing restaurants and chefs, and I’m really excited to be a part of the community.”
A trailblazer in the barbecue world, Lewis grew up in El Paso, Texas, and relocated to Austin when he was 18 to start his culinary career, according to the release. After a stint in Denver honing his craft in the competition barbecue circuit, Lewis returned to Austin in 2010 to help open Franklin Barbecue. He then partnered with LeAnn Mueller to launch the beloved La Barbecue, and quickly became a rising star in Austin’s barbecue scene. In 2015,
Lewis packed up his smokers and moved to Charleston, to open his eponymous restaurant, according to the release. After many successful pop-ups, Lewis and his “barbecrew” opened their doors in June 2016.
Copyright © 2024 BridgeTower Media. All Rights Reserved.
Most Popular
Comments / 0