BBQ is a major food group in Tampa, and locals said goodbye to a real one over the weekend when Ya Boy’s BBQ announced an official closure.
Ya Boy’s BBQ started out as a food truck before opening its brick-and-mortar location at 1901 N. Howard Avenue in 2016. Sadly, it’s closing doors for good. The first mention of a closure came in September when owners said they were “closed until further notice,” but now it’s official.
“Thank you all for all of your support throughout our journey. We couldn't have done it without you,” it says in a Facebook post. Looking through the comments—where loyal customers share their well-wishes and excitement for the future—it’s clear that Ya Boy’s BBQ will be missed..
It’s unsure the reason for the closure but Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reached out to proprietors, and will update this post once more information is available.
There’s still plenty of BBQ to be had in Tampa Bay though. The list of spots include, Big Al’s in Ybor City, Rib Shack BBQ in Largo, Konan BBQ near West Tampa, a few Holy Hogs around Hillsborough County and so many more. There are even festivals in Tampa Bay dedicated to the art form.
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This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2020.