Baltimore has a lot of food traditions, but few are as deeply rooted in the city’s identity as pit beef. It is a style of barbecue that belongs entirely to Maryland, and one stand has become the name most people associate with it.
The story behind this place is not your typical restaurant origin story. A $12,000 wedding gift changed the lives of a Baltimore couple and gave the city one of its most beloved food landmarks.
From a humble strip of road to a nationally recognized stop, this is the kind of tale that makes you want to grab a sandwich and hear the whole thing from the beginning.
A $12,000 Wedding Gift That Changed Everything
The origin story of Chaps Pit Beef is one of the most unusual in Baltimore’s food scene. The business was founded by Bob and Donna Creager, and the startup money came from a wedding gift of $12,000…