Big Lee's is opening a brick-and-mortar location in Ocala. 4th of July is Opening Day

Andy Fillmore
Updated ·4 min read

Editor's note: This story has been revised to include the correct address for the restaurant.

Local restaurateur Rashad Jones − winner of the Food Network’s Season 3 BBQ Brawl and dubbed the “Master of ‘Cue” − has announced the next step for his nationally known, Ocala-based Big Lee’s − Serious About Barbecue operation.

Jones, 44, will open his first brick-and-mortar restaurant location on the 4th of July at 2611 SW 19th Avenue Road (Easy Street) in Ocala. The restaurant is near Regal Hollywood Theaters.

“This the next practical step,” Jones said as he gave a tour of his new 1,500-square-foot, 40-seat restaurant.

Rashad Jones, owner of Big Lee's - Serious About BBQ, peels back the brown paper covering the window of his new brick-and-mortar location at 2611 SW 19th Avenue Road in Ocala. The restaurant opens on the 4th of July.
Rashad Jones, owner of Big Lee's - Serious About BBQ, peels back the brown paper covering the window of his new brick-and-mortar location at 2611 SW 19th Avenue Road in Ocala. The restaurant opens on the 4th of July.

Now, customers won’t have to track the business’ Facebook page to find the locations of Big Lee's four food trucks. The trucks will primarily be used on weekends and for special events, Jones indicated.

Damon Kingsley, kitchen general manager, has been making arrangements for the new restaurant location and opening. He said 1,500 pounds of meat − typically enough to serve about 750 people − will be prepared for the July 4 grand opening.

About that new space

There are clear panels in front of the new location’s kitchen area, which customers encounter as they enter the restaurant.

“(Customers) can see 95% of the kitchen,” Jones said, adding that he is keen on transparency.

The interior will include tribute displays honoring the history and family traditions of the business.

Jones emphasized the renowned Big Lee’s signature barbecue taste “will not change” in popular dishes like brisket and burnt tips.

He and his team currently operate four local food trucks and a central Smoke Yard on Northwest First Avenue in Ocala. The yard contains several large smokers that supply meats − cooked slowly at lower temperatures − to the mobile units and now for the Easy Street location.

The Big Lee’s - Serious About BBQ food is prepared from methods passed on by Jones' wife’s Uncle Leon from the Mississippi Delta. Jones calls him an “amazing man” with a “joy for cooking,” according  to mybigleesbbq.com

About Rashad Jones

Jones, who has also a served as a motivational speaker for youth, began his journey with establishing the Big Lee’s - Serious About Barbecue in 2014.

Jones credits his faith in God and opportunities for his staff as motivations for pursuing his passion for the barbecue restaurant trade. He said his secret ingredient is his passion for the work he loves and willingness to devote long hours.

As the journey to establish his brand unfolded, Jones said he had a dream about a wild bull rushing toward him and snorting as he worked at his backyard grill. The dream served to motivate him.

A mural of a raging bull on a rear wall of the new location by local artist E.J. Nieves represents the wild beast Jones saw in the dream.

About the team

Bryan Roberts, meat and pit manager, and Lily Newlin, kitchen and shift manager, are among the six team members recently promoted to management.

Lily Newlin recently got promoted from team member to kitchen manager. She checks on the briskets with meat/pit manager Bryan Roberts, who also recently got promoted, at the smoke yard for Big Lee's - Serious About BBQ. The smoke yard will provide meats for Big Lee's new permanent restaurant space, which opens on the 4th of July, and for the food trucks.

“I love it; it’s exciting, fun and different,” said Roberts, who had left the food service trade previously but came back citing a positive experience at Jones’ operation.

He said Jones has a vision for the operation.

Newlin, 19, said the promotion is “amazing” and a life changing event that now allows her to save more and have time to enjoy her family. Her longer range goals include considering a position in human resources.

Jasmine Myers, a shift manager, called the business “one of kind.”

Rave reviews from customers

On a recent day, customers at the Big Lees - Serious About Barbecue food truck on Northwest First Avenue included Simon William, in town from Jacksonville, who found the fare “excellent,” and Corbett Scott of Scott’s Cleaning and Handyman Service of Ocala, who said he visits the trucks several times a week.

Earl Waldron of Savannah, Georgia picks up his lunch order from Big Lee's BBQ food truck Wednesday in downtown Ocala.
Earl Waldron of Savannah, Georgia picks up his lunch order from Big Lee's BBQ food truck Wednesday in downtown Ocala.

Earl Waldron, of Savannah, Georgia, visiting Evelyn Day and Pat Rogers of Belleview, made a point of stopping at the truck and trying the fare while in the area.

Waldron knew of the brand from social media and the Food Network show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

“Fantastic,” Waldron said after his brisket meal.

The restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. More at https://www.mybigleesbbq.com/

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue gets permanent home on July 4