Rodney Scott’s BBQ King Street location is closing
CHARLESTON — The King Street location of Rodney Scott’s BBQ closed at 5 pm on May 3, and can stay shuttered “until further notice,” employees confirmed to The Post and Courier.
The closure was on account of circumstances that had been out of administration’s management, working companion Sam Ayala stated in a message to employees.
Known as certainly one of Charleston’s preeminent pitmasters, Rodney Scott first opened his namesake restaurant in 2017, partnering with Nick Pihakis of Jim N’ Nick’s to take action.
At the downtown vacation spot, Scott shares the entire hog cooking traditions he has honed since getting ready his first pig at age 11 at his household’s now-famous Hemingway eatery, Scott’s Bar-B-Que.
In 2018, barely per week after Scott gained a James Beard award for Best Chef: Southeast, the pair introduced plans so as to add a second location in Birmingham. They’ve since debuted Rodney Scott’s BBQ outposts throughout the Southeast beneath the Pihakis Restaurant Group umbrella. The group additionally operates different ideas, together with Joyland, which shuttered its Charleston location earlier this yr.
The closure of the unique Rodney Scott’s BBQ at 1011 King St. comes lower than per week after the restaurant, the Pihakis Restauraunt Group and different affiliated LLCs had been named as defendants in a breach of contract lawsuit filed in Charleston County on April 27.
An image of Rodney Scott hangs from the wall whereas prospects look ahead to take-out orders after the restaurant closed at 5 pm, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Charleston.
The lawsuit alleges that plaintiff Itria Ventures agreed to lend $350,000 to debtors Rodney Scott’s BBQ and RSBBQ Partners. Nick Pihakis, his restaurant and investment groupsand JER Spirits Investments assured the mortgage and are additionally listed as defendants.
The debtors and guarantors did not pay the lender in accordance with the agreed upon cost schedule, the lawsuit allegations. It says the whole damages it is owed exceed $364,000.
“The wrong partner will set you back financially, spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically,” Rodney Scott’s BBQ stated.
Ayala declined to supply particulars concerning the nature of the closure, however stated “we’re hopeful that we’ll come back better and stronger than before.”
Cars line up into the road to get meals from the drive-thru at Rodney Scott’s BBQ on its final day open, Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Charleston.
No indicators of the approaching closure had been obvious throughout the restaurant. Upbeat music blared and a line of shoppers waited to order their favourite dishes round noon on May 3.
Other institutions related to the Pihakis Restaurant Group not too long ago have shuttered amid a multi-million dollar lawsuit. At least one of many areas reopened inside days of the introduced closure.
Rodney Scott and Pihakis Restaurant Group artistic director Angie Mosier didn’t instantly reply to The Post and Courier’s requests for remark.
