Smoked Pickle Barbecue has been serving all kinds of brisket, ribs and pulled pork from a food truck for nearly six years, and now the business is "bursting at its seams." Enough for owner Eric Pickle to open his first brick-and-mortar restaurant.
At a time when so many restaurants are fighting to survive, Pickle said his business is more ready than ever to expand. He plans to keep the food truck, which has a home station at 920 Ebenezer Road, while launching a sit-down restaurant near Lakeshore Park in early 2027.
The new location will share a parking lot as Union Jack's English Pub on Northshore Drive. The spot is only 1,300 square feet, but it's just what Pickle has been seeking for a while, he told Knox News.
"Knoxville is very much a barbecue
vacuum," Pickle said. "We've found there is no ceiling."
Once people smell the food truck's wood-fired craft barbecue, they're hooked, he says. The new location will have more consistent hours, a bigger dining area and plenty of takeaway options. It's a way for Pickle's business to have a bigger reach in the city's barbecue market, which is largely dominated by national and local chains.
He said Knoxville craves local barbecue. Customers just need to know where to find it. Smoked Pickle is only open three days a week right now, but can't seem to make enough food to keep up with the demand. The barbecue truck consistently caters for thousands of people every weekend, often including the University of Tennessee football team.
The menu will expand at the Northshore location, which will be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. It will include specials such as smoked pork loin, prime rib, burgers and wings.
Smoked Pickle Barbecue is open now on Ebenezer Road from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The truck's menu changes often but can feature plates with brisket burnt ends, beef ribs, pulled pork, smoked sausage link, jalapeno cream corn, and queso mac and cheese.
What other barbecue spots are opening?
Nearly three years after Archer's BBQ closed all its locations, William "Archer" Bagley III is making a comeback with a new kind of barbecue restaurant between downtown Knoxville and Happy Holler this fall.
It will be at the former Hops and Hollers beer bar at 937 N. Central St., a building owned by longtime friend, events space owner and Happy Holler landlord Daniel Schuh.
Just a few minutes up the road from Bagley's restaurant, Marcus Stokely is moving into a storefront near Wild Love Bakehouse and Mid Mod Collective in 2027. His new location at 1617 N. Central St. is just north of the Happy Holler neighborhood.
Stokely is partnering with A Dopo co-owner Brian Strutz to turn his Wells Station BBQ truck into a full-service restaurant. He has a background in fine dining, working at places like A Dopo, Blackberry Farm and J.C. Holdway.
Knox News reporter Joanna Hayes covers restaurants and retail for the business growth and development team. Email: joanna.hayes@knoxnews.com; Instagram: @knoxeat65. Sign up for Joanna's Eat65 email newsletter to get the latest drink and dining news, as well as restaurant recommendations, at knoxnews.com/newsletters.
Get the insider's guide to restaurants and bars with Eat65
Are you the one in your group who stays on top of the hot new restaurants and bars? Or maybe you're just looking for an answer the next time someone asks "Where should we get dinner?"
Knox News has you covered, from appetizer to drinks, with our free Eat65 newsletter. Sign up today to get reporter Joanna Hayes' weekly tasting menu from Knoxville's food scene, covering what's new and unique at buzzy restaurants.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Smoked Pickle expanding in Knoxville's 'barbecue vacuum' early next year
