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Jon G’s Barbecue- Rising Smokin’

Allison Parker Photos by Drew Grey • February 18, 2021
A tray filled with lots of meat and vegetables on a table.

Though there may be a crisp wind and a chilly nip in the air, patrons are not deterred from making the trek to Jon G’s Barbeque in Peachland, NC. Opening at 11:00 AM, folks start to gather from near and as far as 40 minutes away in Charlotte and beyond at around 9:30 AM. Waiting in line is no bother as there are servers offering complimentary beer and/or water til the BBQ runs out at around 3 PM. With socially distanced booths inside or outside picnic style seating, there is plenty of options to dine or takeout scrumptious lunch or dinner. Jon G’s BarbeCue has a catering menu and even does weddings.

Jon G’s BarbeCue offers tangy Texas inspired pulled pork, brisket, ribs, sandwiches as well as specialties like Cheerwine Sausage links, Brunswick stew and sweet and hot jalapeno slices called Cowboy Candy. Flavorful sides such as jalapeno cheese grits and brown sugar smoked beans compliment the platters. Takeout orders always include white bread, plentiful homemade bread and butter pickles, pickled onions and containers of flavorful sauces making the trip to Jon G’s is sure to please even the most decerning BBQ fanatic.

It’s no wonder that Jon G’s BarbeCue was recently named #1 BBQ spot in Charlotte by Food Critic Kathleen Purvis and recognized on WCCB News Rising for its coveted ranking for reigning over other barbeque spots such as Noble Smoke and Sweet Lew’s BBQ.

Such scrumptious BBQ is born not made as was the case with Jon G’s owners, Garren and Kelly Kirkman. Garren had a calling to do BBQ.

Kirkman shares,

“I started experimenting in my backyard with an older Charbroil grill and inviting over friends to eat, although nothing fancy, it became an obsession and grew from there.”

Grow to say the least. In 2017, the couple started serving happy clients at local Charlotte area breweries pre-COVID-19 with a pickup truck and food to go. One of their first venues was Southern Range Brewing Company and they would go Friday to late Saturday night.

Garren smiles, “Beer and BBQ just go together.”

With wife, Kelly, running the business side of things doing training, menu, payroll, etc., Pitmaster Garren concentrates on honing his craft of cooking up delicious barbeque. Leaving a corporate career at a local Monroe hospital, Garren is living proof that loving what you do is key to success. The couple purchased the brick and mortar building in Peachland in February, right before the pandemic hit and it was ready to open its doors in the height of the pandemic in June 2020.

Jon G’s Barbecue reflects smoke signals of hope and tasty tidbits for BBQ lovers when a majority of restaurants were limiting or shutting their doors. Smokin’ hot and ready -Jon G’s BBQ is lighting the way for tastebuds everywhere.

A man and a woman are standing next to each other in front of a pile of logs.
Two pieces of meat are cooking on a grill.
A close up of a piece of meat on a paper plate on a table.
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