Monk: We enter the new year with cautious optimism, both on the real world as well as barbecue world fronts. My hope for 2022 is that we can regain any Charlotte barbecue momentum that has largely been on pause for the past two years and see some new players enter the game.
Bring it on, 2022.
October
10/12 At Mac’s Speed Shop, beef ribs and bacon-wrapped jalapenos are two of the prep-intensive items that are being taken off the menu for now
10/21 Jon G’s was featured in the Fall 2021 Issue of QC Exclusive
10/28 Lewis Donald and Sweet Lew’s BBQ raised funds to help the family of a young girl who tragically took her own life at the age of 11
November
11/8 Mac’s Speed Shop is closing its Cornelius restaurant but opening a new one in Mooresville
11/8 A new live-fire cooking restaurant called Cinder is opening in Charlotte from Husk veteran Duke Kroger (who identifies himself as a pitmaster in his Twitter profile)
11/17 After announcing that its Lake Norman location was going to close, Mac’s Speed Shop announced plans for the restaurant to stay open as a smaller location after an outpouring of love from the community
11/29 Jon G’s Barbecue and Salud Beer Shop team up for a pizza collaboration for the month of December
December
12/6 Sweet Lew’s BBQ celebrated 3 years open
12/8 Jon G’s Barbecue is named “Barbecue Restaurant of the Year” by Eater Carolinas
12/9 Tony Salerno Named Vice President of Operations for Mac’s Hospitality Group
12/13 Local coverage of Jon G’s being named “Barbecue Restaurant of the Year” by Eater Carolinas
12/13 With it’s upcoming stall at Optimist Hall, Noble Smoke is one Charlotte-area restaurant in expansion mode in 2022
12/29 Jon G’s and Salud Beer Shop announce they will continue their pizza collab in the new year for the first part of January