A Madisonville barbecue joint is expanding into Over-the-Rhine. Bee’s Barbecue will open a second location in the former Pontiac space on Vine Street.
Bee’s Barbecue owner Brendan “Bee” Hague said he got his first smoker in 2014 and started inviting friends and family to try his barbecue. He experimented with different techniques, and as he got better, started hosting pop-ups.
“At the time, my brother was the Chef de Cuisine at Dutch’s Larder in Hyde Park,” Hague said in a press release. “The restaurant would close at 4 on Sundays and then I’d arrive, smoking trailer in tow, ready to sell my barbecue. Before long, we had a line of people waiting for us to open every week. At that point, I knew it was time to find a permanent spot for Bee’s.”
Bee’s first location opened on Chandler Street in Madisonville in 2021, quickly grew into a neighborhood favorite and it came time to expand.
“It was really a turnkey situation,” Hague said of the new location at 1403 Vine St. “The space had all the equipment I needed to hit the ground running.”
“It’s always exciting to work with an entrepreneur whose business is growing so much it needs a new location – especially one with as much passion for his city, and his food, as Brendan,” Lindzie Gunnels, commercial leasing manager with 3CDC, said in the release. “Bee’s Barbecue is already known for its amazing brisket, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with them to expand their reach so even more people get to taste their delicious barbecue.”
Hague plans to have the new restaurant be a casual neighborhood hangout with a more sports-centric atmosphere, with TVs, indoor and outdoor seating and a full bar with 10 draft lines. The menu will feature barbecue made with locally sourced ingredients, including meats from Avril Bleh and Mackie’s and local wood used for smoking. Expect to see dishes like prime brisket, pulled pork, sausages, smoked wings, specialty sandwiches and homemade sides.
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The OTR Bee’s Barbecue will start out opening at 4 p.m. for full dinner service that will transition to a bar menu later in the evening.
“I’m so excited to be on Cincinnati’s center stage,” Hague said. “This is home for me. Some people leave and come back – but I’ve never left. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to serve more of the city I live in.”
Bee’s Barbecue’s OTR location plans to open late this summer – just in time for the Bengals’ new season.
Bee’s Barbecue, 5910 Chandler St., Madisonville; (Coming Soon) 1403 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. More info: beesbarbecue.com.
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This article appears in May 31 – Jun 13, 2023.
