Louisiana-based VooDoo BBQ & Grill has announced plans to bring its N'awlins "competition style BBQ" to Florida. The fast-casual chain has signed a deal with a local LLC (whose partnership currently includes the management of several Five Guys Burgers & Fries) to enter the market with 26 new locations, spaced out over the next decade. Miami will be the first, with the aim to be operational within the next eight months. Other future development areas include Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville.
A representative of the local LLC did admit that "there are good barbecue places down in Florida, so it's not like we'd be bringing something brand new." But he also says that VooDoo is "different" and that it is "really well situated to fill a niche in between...mom-and-pop shacks or the much larger sit-down restaurants that are prevalent down here."
So what makes this black magic barbecue different?
Apparently, they slow cook chicken, pork, and beef over pecan and oak
logs, and serve it up bone dry (they do provide plenty of sauce on the side, if you must). "Smoked BBQ Platters" cover everything bayou based, from Cajun-style sausage, to shrimp or beef brisket, and naturally, racks of porkalicious ribs. Also known for traditional Southern sides
like corn pudding and sweet potato soufflé, this New Orleans original
was founded by a group of friends who launched the first VooDoo BBQ on
St. Charles Avenue in 2002, during Mardi Gras. Barbecue sales have obviously been
good (we are always happy to hear of Katrina small business survivors), because since then, they've branched out to additional locations in South
Carolina and Texas.
Hey, at least it's not another burger joint.
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