Ohio City BBQ
Ohio City BBQ owner, Nav Singh, is from Toronto, Canada, but came to the neighborhood to be a part of Rebuild Cleveland. He opened the newest BBQ addition in the city earlier this year.
Nav originally set out to open a pizza franchise in Ohio City, but decided to go in a different direction. After researching the area, spending hours on Google maps, and thinking about what the neighborhood needed, he decided upon barbecue.
When you walk into the BBQ joint, you’ll notice the Rock & Roll memorabilia covering the walls. While Nav was in Memphis learning the BBQ trade at one of his friend’s restaurants, he found the inspiration for Ohio City BBQ’s decor. You’ll find decorated guitars, old-fashioned logos, and nostalgic photos of Elvis.
“It’s one of a few restaurants where a millennial might just sit and eat, yet his parents or grandparents will be up, reminiscing, taking pics and sharing stories,” says Nav. “Some of our pictures have brought tears to customers’ eyes; it’s nice hearing stories of the good ol’ days.”
When you visit Ohio City BBQ for the first time, Nav suggests trying a sandwich with a side of beans, slaw, potato salad or cornbread. However, if you come in a group, he encourages you to order the Ultimate Platter, filled with samples of pulled pork, beef brisket, BBQ ribs, and smoked sausage. “You get a bit of everything to taste,” he says.
In Ohio City, Nav enjoys meeting the diverse crowd of people that make up the community. “It’s nice to see different ethnic groups working and living together,” he adds. He’s also grateful for how supportive Cleveland is about the new business. “Thank you Ohio City, and thank you to all the Clevelanders who showed up, called, and emailed every day when we were under construction!”
To learn more, visit their website!