Business

Here’s why Chester’s Barbecue closed one of its locations in Columbus last month.

Chester’s Barbeque in the basement of the city’s Government Center might not be the first place that comes to mind when deciding on a downtown lunch spot. But those prices might make you reconsider.. A barbecue sandwich will only cost you about a buck. The catch: you’ll have to empty your pockets, take off your belt and walk through a metal detector first.
Chester’s Barbeque in the basement of the city’s Government Center might not be the first place that comes to mind when deciding on a downtown lunch spot. But those prices might make you reconsider.. A barbecue sandwich will only cost you about a buck. The catch: you’ll have to empty your pockets, take off your belt and walk through a metal detector first. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

The Chester’s Barbecue location on Veterans Parkway closed March 5 because of a business decision tied to a retirement plan, owner Toya Chester told the Ledger-Enquirer.

This business decision was made because of a strategic plan for retirement the family made ahead of time, she said.

“We closed that location because (we’re) closer to retirement,” Chester said.

The locations on Northstar Drive and in Phenix City are still open, and will continue operating for the same hours Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Chester’s was founded in 1939 on St. Mary’s Road as a grocery store before moving to its Northstar Drive location in 1944. The business has been owned and operated by the Chester family for generations, and began selling barbecue in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s.

While the Veterans Parkway location is closed, Chester encourages Columbus residents to continue supporting the family business.

“People can always visit one of our other locations,” she said. “We appreciate our customers’ continued support in the community.”

This story was originally published April 3, 2023 at 10:31 AM.

Profile Image of Brittany McGee
Brittany McGee
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Brittany McGee is the community issues reporter for the Ledger-Enquirer. She is a 2021 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism with a second degree in Economics. She began at the Ledger-Enquirer as a Report for America corps member covering the COVID-19 recovery in Columbus. Brittany also covered business for the Ledger-Enquirer.
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