Nine years after People’s Bar-B-Que shut down, the smell of smoked ribs may soon return to Overtown.
Why it matters: The legendary barbecue spot isn’t reopening, but a new landlord is searching for a grill master to help preserve the cultural history of the historic Black neighborhood.
State of play: People’s, which opened in 1962 at 350 NW Eighth St., was sold last year to the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency.
- The CRA spent about $1.5 million building a new barbecue pit and renovating the kitchen and exterior spaces.
Driving the news: In August, the CRA began soliciting proposals from folks interested in running a restaurant there.
- The new operator will be required to serve barbecue and include a variation of “People’s BBQ” in its name.
The intrigue: After the CRA picks its finalists, the community will choose a winner through a blind cook-off competition…