April 20 is shaping up to be a big day for smokers in Fort Lauderdale — barbecue smokers, that is. Fat Boyz Barbecue plans to open its third location on Saturday, April 20, at the former site of Red Cow, at 1025 N. Federal Highway. The timing, on a date known as “Weed Day” because 4-20 is slang for cannabis, is strictly coincidental.
“I didn’t even think of that,” says owner Jarael Holston-Jones, a straitlaced U.S. Army veteran who serves as a pastor at his church. “I guess it’ll be a good day for people who are hungry for barbecue.”
The new Fat Boyz will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. April 20 but will be closed the next day — Easter Sunday — before operating on its usual schedule, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
“That weekend will be a little slower for us because of the holiday, so we figured it’s a good time to start,” Holston-Jones says.
The homegrown Fat Boyz has gained a large and loyal following in recent years, with a fleet of food trucks leading to successful brick-and-mortars in Deerfield Beach (February 2017) and Coral Springs (July 2018). Holston-Jones and wife Yolanda also opened Crazy Cajun Crabs, a seafood restaurant in Pompano Beach, this year.
The Fort Lauderdale Fat Boyz, across from the Gateway Cinema at the big bend of North Federal Highway and East Sunrise Boulevard, will feature an expanded menu. Fat Boyz (no relation and not to be confused with Phat Boy Sushi) specializes in Southern-style barbecue, with ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, burnt ends, baked beans and collard greens. Its monster sandwiches featuring meats piled with mac-and-cheese have been popular. Beef rib will be offered on Fridays and Saturdays. The Fort Lauderdale restaurant also will offer fried chicken, fried catfish, burgers, tacos and smoked lobster tails.
Jarael and Yolanda began doing barbecue earlier this decade with fundraising cookouts at his church. “It started as a hobby and now it’s our passion,” he says. When they started with one truck, it parked near the Broward County Courthouse on weekdays for nearly two years.
“That was our launching pad,” Holston-Jones says. “We cultivated a lot of loyal customers at the courthouse, and they followed us to Deerfield and Coral Springs. We’re so happy to be back in Fort Lauderdale. We’ve got roots here.”
The location, in a strip mall accessible only from the southbound lanes of Federal Highway, has proven challenging for other restaurants, including Red Cow, which closed last year after a five-year run.
“Once people know we’re there, they’ll figure out how to get in there,” says Holston-Jones, an Ely High graduate who grew up in South Florida. “We’re well known in the area. We’ve got people who fly in from the Bahamas to come to our restaurants. I think we’ll be OK.”
Holston-Jones says he’s keeping some signage and decor from Red Cow at the new Fat Boyz. On Monday, the “Be Nice” slogan of the previous owners (the Be Nice Restaurant Group) was still above the door. “We want to pay homage to them as part of their efforts in the barbecue family,” Holston-Jones says.
The new Fat Boyz location will smoke meats on site, and some sides will be prepared in Coral Springs. Holston-Jones says the Coral Springs location, which recently expanded with a second room and more than 100 seats, has been doing particularly well, serving more than 500 meals on a recent Saturday. The new Fort Lauderdale location will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. every day, but all Fat Boyz locations will be closed on Easter Sunday.
Fat Boyz Barbecue opening April 20, 1025 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, no phone yet, FatBoyzBarbecue.com.
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