King’s Famous Barbecue fans will be happy to learn that the iconic restaurant will open again. The community has not been able to order food prepared at 2910 S. Crater Road since April 2023, except for a couple of pop-up events.
The eatery specializes in pit-smoked Virginia style barbecue pork, beef and chicken. The family-owned restaurant has an enormous fan base. King’s Famous Barbecue, aka King’s and King’s Barbecue by locals, has been recognized by Southern Living magazine twice: Top Ten Sauces of the South and Top 10 most legendary restaurants worth a detour in the Southeastern U.S.
Alicia Keeler and her mother Joan Hawks have owned King’s Famous Barbecue since 1994. Keeler’s husband Matthew Keeler has been King’s general manager, pit boss, sauce maker, meat cutter and pie baker for the last 25 years. Alicia Keeler is a third-generation King’s owner. According to Alicia Keeler, her mom’s dad John King and his brother Clinton King founded King’s in 1946 on Washington Street in Petersburg…