The doors of St. Petersburg's Deuces BBQ, whose smoked wings one CL editor recently referred to as "magic," have closed.
According to founder Patrick Collins, who started the affordable, down-home barbecue joint in 2015, the decision came after he learned his rent at 911 22nd St. S. was set to increase.
"Our landlord has given us a 60-day notice to vacate the premises or double the rent, effective Aug. 1, and we're not able to pay that increased rent for a couple of reasons," he told CL by phone. "No. 1, we try to keep our food price low to our customers, and then No. 2 is we pay living wages to our employees. It wouldn't be fair to our customers to raise the prices, and, obviously, it would never be fair to lose an employee or have to reduce wages."
Carolyn Brayboy, who owns the Deuces BBQ building and the next-door space occupied by Gallerie 909 with her husband Elihu, said there aren't any immediate plans for the restaurant's former home, but that they are throwing around several ideas and have received a few inquiries from interested parties.
Deuces BBQ first announced the closure in a post to its Facebook page (which is hidden at the moment, due to negative comments that Collins says he doesn't want to promote) earlier this week. The popular restaurant was recognized by regulars for signature menu items like the Mac Daddy — a freshly made mac-and-cheese waffle topped with slow-smoked pulled pork — as much as its community involvement.
"We had free community parties, painted and helped revitalize the neighborhood and gave back thousands of dollars to community efforts, local sports teams, the arts and so much more! We leave behind a legacy that we are proud of and always will be, no matter what," read the restaurant's Aug. 6 Facebook update.
Whatever controversy may surround this transitional period for Deuces BBQ (some folks have been "wonderfully supportive," as the founder put it, while others are "really upset" about the move), Collins said he tries to maintain a positive outlook. He doesn't want to propagate negativity.
He's been clearing out restaurant equipment and the like from the building throughout the week with a one-thing-at-a-time mentality, but the young eatery intends to remain a part of the local food scene. The idea is to regroup, get the business's catering side up and running again from a commercial kitchen as soon as possible, build up reserves, and reopen as a full-service restaurant somewhere that's better suited for long-term growth — in St. Pete, of course.
"We'll rise again, as we say," Collins said. "I don't live negatively, and I don't want anybody else to."
This article appears in Aug 10-17, 2017.