A nice write-up in the Hattiesburg American
A breeze carried the aroma of smoked meats throughout downtown Hattiesburg Tuesday as The Shed BBQ & Blues opened for its first day of business.
Located on Mobile Street, colorful, decorative signs greeted guests to the renovated space that once housed The Bottling Company. Throughout the eatery, “Shedisms” – or clever sayings – are posted on walls and other free space.
Featured on The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” The Travel Channel’s “Rib Paradise,” “Regis & Kelly” and other national television shows, competitions and magazines, Brad Orrison and his sister Brooke Lewis opened the first Shed in 2000 in Ocean Springs.
Linda Orrison, Brad Orrison’s mother and marketing manager, said they wanted to expand in the Hattiesburg area for some time.
She said the original Shed was 300 square feet and is probably smaller than the stage in the massive 16,000-square-foot Mobile Street location.
“This is the largest of them all,” she said.
Misty Stuart and Jason Walley stopped by for lunch.
“I didn’t know it was going to be open today,” she said.
Stuart said she tried the barbecue from the Ocean Springs location and Tuesday, she was sticking with her favorites.
“I like the pulled pork sandwich and potato salad and he likes the ribs,” she said.
Stuart said her Tuesday visit for lunch is the calm before the storm.
“I know people are excited because I’ve seen people talking about it on Facebook all the time. I’m excited. We will definitely be back.”
Mitch Brown, managing partner for the franchise, said the restaurant’s soft opening Monday attracted more than 500 guests who sampled a limited menu of pulled pork, baby back ribs, chicken, sides of potato salad, beans and cole slaw.
“We’ve had a lot of feedback. It looks like (from Monday night’s crowd) to be a good addition to downtown Hattiesburg,” Brown said.
“People enjoy the food and music. It’s just a good Shed atmosphere.”
Linda Orrison said the soft opening made her come to a realization it was the right move.
“We had people outside when the line was wrapped around the building thanking us because now they don’t have to drive to Gulfport or Ocean Springs,” she said. “Hattiesburg is so welcoming.”
Diner Marvin Chestnut said he didn’t know of the Shed’s reputation for barbecue but he will never forget.
“It (ribs) was really tender,” he said. “I will definitely come back. This is a nice place. I like the atmosphere.”
Barbecue joint cooking up sweet smells, sounds
