North Carolina barbecue spot The Smoke Pit has secured its fifth location. It will be opening in a 7,000-square-foot former Chili’s space at The Arboretum at 8136 Providence Road.
“We’ve always wanted to have a store in Charlotte,” spokesperson Justin Sides shared with What Now Charlotte. “When a building popped up that worked for us and made sense, we hopped on that.”
Founders Joey Graham, Devin Barbee and Jeremy Beaver launched the brand in 2014 with a location in Concord. Since then, they have expanded to Salisbury, Monroe and Gastonia.
The local chain is known for Texas-style BBQ, serving fresh slow-cooked meat. Menu items include pulled pork, brisket, BBQ plates, ribs, hickory-smoked jumbo chicken wings and sandwiches such as chopped brisket and dragon pork sliders.
Sides said their emphasis on variety in their menu sets them apart from other brands in the area. Since there are plenty of options, they have some customers who come in to eat at The Smoke Pit multiple times a week.
“North Carolina is really kind of the pig capital of the U.S. A lot of the old-school barbecue spots that have been open since 1950 that people have grown to love and are part of the culture here — they do serve barbecue, but it’s just like chopped pork,” Sides said. “We’re more of a Texas-inspired, full-scale place. We smoke brisket, ribs, turkey, chicken wings, chicken quarters, pulled pork ribs, beef ribs — we kind of do the whole spread.”
Since the location is a second-generation restaurant space, construction efforts have mainly focused on revamping the interior to prepare for opening. They are projecting a mid- to late August opening at The Arboretum.
