In Lockhart, the locals started advocating for Chuck’s dream, saying, ‘Oh, this is the perfect place for you.’ Chuck recalls, “They really put an initiative out there to bring Barbs to Lockhart.” That initiative even included established Lockhart names like Old Pal Bar, actively scouting locations on Barbs’ behalf. That kind of community support only reflects a fraction of Chuck’s budding talents for barbecue. 

Growing up in South Texas, Chuck had a taste for binge-worthy flavors but found inspiration to take on a male-dominated field after a chance employment at Eastside legend Franklin Barbecue. “I saw Sarah [Petmecky] go off cooking ribs,” Chuck says. She remembers looking back at her early days. “[Sarah] is one woman out of eight guys, and the one who opened my eyes to the idea that it could also be my thing.” Eventually, Chuck accepted that fate was herding her towards being a pitmaster, and she started hosting pop-ups to see if the world wanted a taste of what she had to offer. 

After receiving an overwhelming wave of positivity, opening up a more permanent space was the obvious next step. Firming up her menu, the playful and pink space on Lockhart’s town square sees a snaking line form as patrons eagerly debate which items to order. Trays arrive at tables with a rarely seen pop of green from their famous green spaghetti, inspired by her mother’s verde sauce. 

Local Tip: Try their Fajita Sausage.

That South Texas spice pairs perfectly with the tastebud-bombing Molotov Pork Ribs. “They’re called Molotov because it’s truly a flavor explosion.” Chuck elaborates, “I was thinking about the pork ribs in particular and the addicting spiciness and acidity from Hot Cheetos.” So Chuck took that flavor profile and ran with it, concocting ribs that cause such a stir that people are willing to get right back in line for more. 

Contact:
102 E Market St., Lockhart
barbsbq.com