New barbecue joint coming next month to Phenix City, replacing Michelle’s restaurant
A new barbecue restaurant will be coming to Phenix City in mid-November located in the former Michelle’s Restaurant, which closed its doors earlier this month.
Owners Kenneth Cook and his father Kenny, will open Cook’s BBQ at 2061 Highway 280.
Kenneth and his wife Shelby grew up in Columbus, and have lived in the area their entire lives. Two years ago, Kenneth was working full-time as a 911 dispatcher, and Shelby as a nurse, when Kenneth decided to start a catering service.
“It was just a crazy thing I thought about doing,” Kenneth said. “Because I worked in a restaurant before, and I wanted to own a restaurant.”
Since owning a restaurant wasn’t possible at the time, he focused on catering. Cook’s BBQ found success with this model, and is booked for the rest of 2022 and all of 2023 as well. Kenneth caters about two events each month.
“So, catering has helped (Kenneth) make his place,” Shelby said. “And this restaurant will just help it flourish.”
Kenneth continues to work full-time as an EMT and operates the catering business, while Shelby continues to work as a nurse. When the restaurant opens, Cook’s BBQ will continue offering a catering service, he said.
Michelle’s Restaurant closing
Kenneth found the location listed on a commercial realty site, and contacted the owners of Michelle’s.
“It just happened that they were already thinking about closing,” he said. “And so it just kind of all worked out.”
The Ledger-Enquirer was unable to reach the owner of Michelle’s Restaurant, but the business posted on its Facebook page that it officially closed on Oct. 2.
“It’s been a wild ride,” reads a post on the Michelle’s of Phenix City Facebook page. “But unfortunately prices are too high for us to continue.”
The restaurant’s post continued on to thank its staff, and Kenneth said Cook’s BBQ plans to hire at least two former Michelle’s Restaurant employees.
Another Facebook post on the Michelle’s of Phenix City page explains that another Michelle’s location in Georgetown remains open, and their catering service will continue for the Phenix City, Columbus and Fort Mitchell area.
Kenneth said there will be cosmetic changes inside the building to set it up for Cook’s BBQ, and some of the trees and greenery in front of the building will be removed to make it more visible from the road.
Cook’s BBQ will also rely on word of mouth, flyers and social media to get the word out about the restaurant. People interested in keeping up with the definitive open date should follow Cook’s BBQ on Facebook, Shelby said.
Family recipes
The freshness and quality of the food at Cook’s BBQ will set the restaurant apart from other barbecue places in the area, Kenneth said.
Cook’s BBQ will use the best vendors, he said, and they will get their food delivered every day. They will also use local suppliers and vendors as much as they can, Shelby said.
“We’re a small business,” Kenneth said. “And we have to support other small businesses because we know it’s a hard time right now.”
Everything on the menu will be cooked fresh every day, he said, and nothing will come out of a can. The restaurant will not keep anything overnight.
Cook’s BBQ’s menu will include traditional barbecue staples like pork, chicken and ribs, he said. And it will also include a Brunswick stew family recipe that is more than 50 years old. Kenneth’s grandparents were instrumental in giving him his love for cooking.
He first learned to cook from his grandma, before he began working for Mike & Ed’s BBQ when he was 14 years old. Kenneth learned the Brunswick stew recipe from his dad, Kenny, and his grandpa, he said.
It takes about three days to make the stew, Kenneth said, and Kenny would invite friends and family over to their house on the weekends for “stew parties.”
Previously, the stew was made outside in a “big pot”, he said, but Cook’s BBQ now has a way to make the dish inside on the stove.
Kenneth hopes that when customers come to eat at the restaurant they feel at home in the casual atmosphere.
“I definitely want to leave an impression on people,” he said. “So they go and tell other people.”
This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
