The name Little Richard’s BBQ is 27 years strong in the Triad. With locations in Clemmons, Yadkinville, Mt. Airy, and Walkertown, the brand has become a well-known, much-loved staple in a community that is recognized and loved for great barbeque. In mid-August, Winston-Salem finally gets its own Little Richard’s!
Owned by the Karagiorgis family, Little Richard’s new location is a part of an ongoing, strategic growth plan, spearheaded by Stephen Karagiorgis. “The Winston-Salem location has been on our radar for a while,” said Stephen. “We’re taking what we’ve known and loved from the past, and expanding on it. It’s important to note that we’re not reinventing the wheel. We are simply continuing to grow and offering our customers a unique experience at our new location.”
The Winston-Salem Difference
As any great business owner will tell you, it’s all about location, location, location. “We were actually looking at another property in Winston-Salem, but there were some complications. Just as we were about to begin looking at other spaces, the location on Stratford Road became available,” shared Stephen. “We were excited to move in and make it our own. I think people are going to be surprised by the difference.”
The new Winston-Salem restaurant will seat up to 180 guests, making it the largest restaurant in the Little Richard’s family. There will also be a private dining area for parties of up to 50 people, as well as a covered patio area. Additionally, the Winston-Salem location will include a full-service bar, which is new to the Little Richard’s brand. While the name is the same, customers will note a slightly different spelling—“Little Richard’s Bar-N-Que”—an homage to the aforementioned bar.
“This will be a new experience for Little Richard’s customers,” said Stephen. “The new restaurant is not designed to compete in any way with itssisterlocations, but will offer something different. This larger space allows us to offer the bar, as well as live music. We think our customers are going to love the new option.”
The Winston-Salem Menu
“Our customers will find their favorites on the Winston-Salem menu,” assured Stephen. “However, we have added some options that will be unique to the Winston-Salem location.” Some of those notable additions include:
APPETIZERS
- Brisket Burnt Ends
- Nachos Nuevos
- Smoked Buffalo Chicken Fries
SALADS
- Romaine & Kale Caesar
- Creamy Smoked Chicken
- Texas Brisket Chopped
SANDWICHES & BURGERS
- BBQ Cubano
- Smoked Pimento Cheese Burger
- Cowboy Burger
“These are all amazing new recipes we’re excited to share,” said Stephen. “But the biggest new menu addition is a special new section called ‘Mexi-Que.’ We’ve put a barbeque spin on some Mexican classics, including Tacos, Taquitos, and Quesadillas. We think customers are going to love this fusion of flavors!”
“The thing about barbeque is that everyone has an opinion about it,” continued Stephen. “For the better part of three decades, we have taken great pride in offering true, authentic, North Carolina barbeque, but offering smoked meats with different sauces and variety is a growing trend. We want to (and will continue to) offer what we have historically been known for, but we are also going to dare to be different. These new signature specialties will compliment what we already excel at doing.”
NC-Inspired Decor
The new restaurant is located at 109 S. Stratford Road. “Historically, this restaurant space has been more upscale dining,” said Stephen. “I think guests who are familiar with the location will be surprised when they visit. The space has been converted for a laid back, casual dining experience.”
The interior and the exterior look very different. “The décor has been designed with a local flavor. We have embraced a rustic look with fun and playful accessories.”
Indeed, the décor has a bit of an American Pickers’ style, with signs and props that give a nod to Winston-Salem, local business, North Carolina, and general nostalgia.
“We had fun choosing our décor,” said Stephen. “Barbeque is a cultural experience, and we wanted the restaurant to reflect our local culture. We have used the décor to celebrate many local businesses that have made Winston-Salem great and honored our home state.”
Bar-N-Que
“The full-service bar is something new for us,” said Stephen. “Historically, our restaurants have featured only beer. Our bar will include a lot of local and regional craft beers, as well as some signature references to North Carolina. For example, we’re going to have drinks that utilize Sunshine Energy, a Winston-Salem-based company.
“We are also excited about a signature cocktail—the Bourbon Cheerwine Slushie. It’s a vintage classic to North Carolina, and it’s delicious.”
And what’s a bar without live music? “We look forward to bringing live music to Little Richard’s Bar-N-Que,” said Stephen. “This is another way we are differentiating our Winston-Salem location. It’s not just about going out to eat with family and friends anymore. It’s about going to out to eat, hanging out, relaxing, and being entertained, too! We have some great talent in this area, and we are excited to have various bands join us at Little Richard’s!”
Continuing to Give to Others
In June 2018, Little Richard’s BBQ began a “Meal for Meal Mondays” campaign, in partnership with the non-profit organization “Feed My Starving Children.” Stephen shared, “Since we began, we have donated over 90,000 boxed meals. ‘Meal for Meal Mondays’ is something that we will continue at the Winston-Salem location. This cause is very important to us.
“With the community’s support, we are doing good through food! Since we started Meal for Meal Mondays, our customers have embraced the concept, and we are excited about the impact we can make together…this is definitely a bigger campaign than what Little Richard’s can do by itself. It’s a true community effort,” continued Stephen.
Grand Opening
The grand opening of Little Richard’s Bar-N-Que will be mid-August. There will be a soft opening before the official grand opening, and customers should check the Facebook page for the official opening date.
“We are so excited about this new location,” said Stephen. “Our team has been in training at our other locations throughout the summer in order to prepare. We know this is going to be a great grand opening. We can’t wait to welcome our current customers and introduce Little Richard’s Bar-N-Que to new customers!”
The newest location of Little Richard’s Bar-N-Que is 109 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem. Little Richard’s BBQ continues to serve in their other popular locations in Clemmons, Yadkinville, Mt. Airy, and Walkertown. Visit them online at LittleRichardsBarbecue.com to see menus for each location, or to order online. Be sure to like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram. Little Richard’s BBQ is always accepting job applications.
To learn more about the non-profit supported through Meal for Meal Mondays, visit Feed My Starving Children online at FMSC.org. This international ministry is based in Coon Rapids, MN, and to date, they have packed and shipped well over two million meals.
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The Mexi-Que Menu:
Pulled Pork Tacos: flour tortillas filled with pork BBQ, country slaw, picode gallo, chipotle crema, and cilantro.
Brisket Tacos: flour tortillas filled with shaved beef, blue cheese crumbles, red onion, avocado, and cilantro.
Taquitos: 3 fried flour tortillas filled with cheese, pork BBQ, and topped with Hickory sauce and chipotle crema.
BBQ Quesadilla: your choice of meat, mixed cheese, diced peppers, and accompanying sauce. Served with picode gallo, chipotle crema and cilantro.
