A new food buggy is bringing southern hospitality to West Union Street.
After seven years of selling barbecue at Southeastern Ohio festivals and fairs, Patricia Thomas, owner of Adam’s Rib, will be offering her southern-style grilled and smoked meats to passersby in Uptown Athens.
As her business expanded beyond the Athens Farmers Market and music festivals, Thomas said the logical transition was to move onto West Union Street, where she expects a strong fan base amongst Ohio University staff and students.
“I want to offer more people in the college community good quality meat and food other than pizza and fast food,” Thomas said. “My ribs don’t taste like McRibs.”
Thomas said she began selling smoked meats, in addition to her usual grilled dishes, two months ago when she met John Strohl, a 60-year-old OU student in the sustainability specialized studies program.
Strohl, who previously owned a barbecue restaurant in Pacifica, California from 2002-03, said he’s been doing Texas-style barbecue since living in Texas in the 1990s.
Smoking and grilling are complementary skills to have in the barbecue business, Strohl said.
“With my time around barbecue in Texas and at my own restaurant in California, I would say this makes for the perfect combination with (Thomas’) abilities,” Strohl said.
Thomas said she expects Strohl’s selection of smoked meats to boost sales.
“People have liked my ribs, but adding the smoked meats added an element to my business,” Thomas said. “It was a good move for me.”
Adam’s Rib will be Uptown every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 6 p.m. until the bars close, Thomas said.
Prices of Thomas and Strohl’s fare range from $2 for a hot dog to $25 for a slab of ribs.
Sean Redmond, a freshman studying neuroscience, called his Adam’s Rib pulled pork sandwich “voluptuous.”
“I thought it was good-priced,” Redmond said. “The meat was pretty delicious and well-seasoned.”
sh335311@ohiou.edu
