The new Central BBQ now being built at the corner of Central Avenue and Cox Street looks more magnificent every time I drive by.
I called Roger Sapp, co-owner with Craig Blondis, to tell me about it. He says it’s slated to open the first of December. “If we’re lucky,” he adds.
“It’s going to be about 4,800 square feet with a 1,500-square-foot patio. The building on the left is the patio. It runs along the sidewalk where the old restaurant used to be.”
That’s the indoor patio, which is on the east side. The outdoor patio is on the west side. The new dining room with kitchen and bathrooms is in the middle. That parking lot is where the old restaurant used to be.
The new restaurant is about 50 percent bigger than the old one. And, Sapp says, “Our kitchen is going to be great. We’re putting a big kitchen in.”
I asked what happened to the old Central BBQ. “We closed it for remodeling and ended up tearing it down.”
Blondis bought the building at Cox Street and Central Avenue. “It’s going to be additional seating of maybe 40 people and a small wine bar.”
I love the old brick look of the new restaurant. That’s because it is old brick, Sapp says. “I took the brick off the building we tore down next door to the one Downtown. We got to use all the old brick.”
The restaurant looks massive, but, Sapp says, “The one Downtown is still the biggest.” That one, at 147 East Butler Avenue, originally was two warehouses. It’s about 12,000 square feet including the indoor patio.
The upcoming Central BBQ on Central is not as big as the one on 4375 Summer Avenue, which is 8,000 square feet including the kitchen.
Just writing this article made me hungry. I’m ready for some Central barbecue where I originally tried it years ago. But this time in a new building.
And, keeping it in the family, Sapp’s son Garrett Sapp is running the job for Ybos & Sons Construction Inc.
