Popular Charleston BBQ Brand Expands into Atlanta Market

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A Charleston-based barbecue restaurant located in Greenville is expanding into the Atlanta market.

Pitmaster John Lewis is opening the third southern outpost of Lewis Barbecue, set to launch in Atlanta’s Piedmont Heights neighborhood, at Ansley Mall, 1544 Piedmont Ave. NE, in the summer of 2025, according to a press release.

The opening adds to Lewis’ growing portfolio of restaurants, which includes Lewis Barbecue and Rancho Lewis in Charleston and Lewis Barbecue in Greenville, the release said.

Located near the Atlanta Beltline at Ansley Mall, a Selig Enterprises property and long-time neighborhood institution, the restaurant will feature the pitmaster’s signature central Texas-style barbecue offering brisket, honky tonk music, casual atmosphere and staff dedicated to the city’s vibrant dining scene, the release said.

Construction is underway on the space to accommodate Lewis Barbecue’s unique facility, which includes a large smokehouse with custom pits, expansive indoor and outdoor dining areas and Lewis’ signature barbecue service line, where guests line up for his award-winning brisket. , pork ribs, pulled pork, turkey and hot sausages as well as a wide selection of sides, snacks and drinks, the release said.

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The opening of Lewis Barbecue Atlanta will come nearly a decade after the launch of Lewis Barbecue’s first physical location in Charleston, which put Lewis on the map as one of the leaders of the barbecue community, the release said. Building on his success in South Carolina, Lewis is looking forward to opening a restaurant in another notable dining destination in the Southeast.

“I had my sights set on Atlanta for a long time and when we found the right space, my partners and I jumped on it,” Lewis said in the release. “The city is full of amazing restaurants and chefs, and I’m really excited to be a part of the community. »

A pioneer in the world of barbecue, Lewis grew up in El Paso, Texas, and moved to Austin at age 18 to begin his culinary career, according to the release. After a stint in Denver honing his craft in the competitive barbecue circuit, Lewis returned to Austin in 2010 to help open Franklin Barbecue. He then teamed up with LeAnn Mueller to launch the beloved La Barbecue and quickly became a rising star in the Austin barbecue scene. In 2015,

Lewis packed up his smokes and moved to Charleston to open his namesake restaurant, according to the release. After many successful pop-ups, Lewis and his “barbecrew” opened their doors in June 2016.

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