Owner of Gainesville barbecue restaurant has big plans for new Oaks Mall location

Alan Festo, Gainesville Sun
·3 min read

A popular Gainesville barbecue spot is on the move and its owner has big plans for its prominent new location.

Top Hog BBQ owner Mike Sheftic confirmed to The Sun on Tuesday morning that he is moving the restaurant's Archer Road location in Kanapaha Station to the former Red Robin space at the front of The Oaks Mall, 6419 W. Newberry Road, Suite 20.

Sheftic said he is rebranding the restaurant as Top Hog BBQ, Bourbon and Blues, and will offer table service with live entertainment from local blues artists.

He said he hopes to have the restaurant open by mid-April, and that a grand opening likely will be held around Memorial Day. He noted that his lease at the Archer Road location is coming to an end and that there will likely be a two-week break between the old restaurant closing and the new one opening.

The Brisket Melt from Top Hog BBQ comes topped with smoked brisket, melted cheddar and gouda cheese, and a horseradish cream on grilled sourdough bread.
The Brisket Melt from Top Hog BBQ comes topped with smoked brisket, melted cheddar and gouda cheese, and a horseradish cream on grilled sourdough bread.

Sheftic hopes that the mall's more central location across from HCA Florida North Florida Hospital will help him cater to a larger portion of the community, particularly those who may be looking for more gluten-free options.

Development: Gas station, restaurant proposed near corner of Newberry and Parker roads. Here's what we know.

"Over 90% of our menu is available gluten-free," he said. "Between DoorDash and GrubHub we'll be able to delivery to all of Gainesville."

The new location also offers an additional 2,000 square feet of space, something Sheftic said will make the business more efficient.

"We felt we could serve more people more easily. That's a big part of going into the mall," he said. "The industry has evolved a lot over the last five years. You've got to keep changing, you've got to keep growing to keep pace, especially with the price of goods going up and labor going up."

The restaurant's size is not all that will be expanding. The menu is, too.

"We're probably doubling the size. We're adding on eight to 10 sandwiches, several appetizer and entree options. Trying to fit a little more with the theme," he said.

Is your favorite on the list?: 16 Alachua County restaurants cited for high-priority violations

Some of the "more sit-down friendly foods" will include bourbon rib tips, short ribs and bacon-wrapped meatloaf.

Sheftic opened his first Top Hog BBQ in 2018 in the Publix at Steeplechase plaza in Jonesville, where it continues to thrive as a lunchtime spot and quick dinner option. The Archer Road location followed in October 2021.

Sheftic told The Sun in 2018 that he set out to make a more Florida-style barbecue, and that meats are smoked using a mix of Florida woods. He also uses oranges, lemons and sometimes peaches to enrich his flavors.

The restaurant's curent offerings include pulled chicken and pork, smoked turkey, sausage, chicken and brisket, and citrus glazed ribs. There's also a variety of sandwiches such as the Smoke a Cuban, Four Pigs And A Cow, the Brisket Melt and the Chipotle Turkey Club, among others.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Top Hog BBQ, Bourbon and Blues to open at Oaks Mall in Gainesville