North Augusta food vendor Ironhead BBQ is gearing up to open its first brick-and-mortar location, owner Kurt Mueller announced late last week.
The former site of Pot Smokers BBQ North Augusta, 340 Edgefield Road, will house the new restaurant after a leasing agreement brokered by Joe Edge. On April 30, Mueller broke the news to his social media followers about the upcoming location.
“My goal is to be a nationally recognized barbecue brand and have locations across the country. So in order to have locations across the country, you’ve got to start with one,” said Mueller. “So this is number one, and it’s very significant because I think anytime that you make the jump from mobile food truck or food trailer, to a to a brick and mortar, certainly it really forces you to level up.”
Mueller launched Ironhead BBQ in 2022 as Atomic City Smokers, touring on the competitive barbecue circuit and even appearing on the Food Network’s “BBQ USA.”
The food truck and catering operations will continue after the restaurant opens. Mueller, anticipates a formidable transition from primarily operating a food truck, including renovating the space, increasing and managing staff, and coordinating the preparation of greater volumes of food for more customers.
However, Mueller, a financial planner by trade, is not fazed by any impending trials.
“At the end of the day, if it’s not challenging, then it’s probably not forcing you to grow,” he said. “So it’s a good thing.”
Pot Smoker BBQ, which has a branch in Aiken, closed the flagship North Augusta last summer. Mueller is confident Ironhead will make a unique impact on the location with its blend of West Coast, Texas, Carolina and Georgia-style barbecue. The menu boasts smokehouse staples like pulled pork and hash, along with tri-tip beef, dino ribs and even Wagyu beef brisket.
Mueller also notes that everything on the menu, from macaroni and cheese to baked beans to even the deserts are smoked.
“If I can smoke it, I’m going to smoke it,” he said. “At the end of the day, you have, you have to start with a quality product, no matter how good of a pit master you may be, if you start with an inferior product, whether it’s brisket, pork, chicken, doesn’t matter. You’re starting with an inferior product. You’re just simply making it more difficult on yourself, and you’re already fighting an uphill battle.”
Mueller aims to have the first Ironhead BBQ restaurant opened by early August, or by Labor Day at the latest.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
