Rodney Scott Expands Whole Hog Empire to Alabama

Hot off his James Beard Award win, pitmaster Rodney Scott announced yesterday that he will expand his whole hog restaurant, Rodney Scott’s BBQ, to Birmingham, Alabama.

Scott opened Rodney Scott BBQ in Charleston last year, but helped run the family business, Scott’s Bar-B-Que, in Hemingway since he was 17. The Lowcountry restaurant was an instant hit with lines out the door of hungry patrons looking for pulled pork, ribeye sandwiches, and fried catfish.

Scott will open his second outpost in downtown Birmingham with business partner Nick Pihakis of Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. Scott will split his time between the stores until a new operating partner is found to run the location.

With this expansion, whole hog fanatics across the South are probably wondering if their town will be lucky enough to score a Rodney Scott’s BBQ next, but Pihakis and Scott haven’t said if the Birmingham outpost signals that there will be more growth for the restaurant.

• Charleston Brings Home Two Monumental James Beard Awards [ECHS]
• James Beard-Winning Chef Coming to Alabama to Open BBQ Restaurant [AL]
• All Rodney Scott BBQ Coverage [ECHS]
• Scott’s Bar-B-Que Keeps Whole Hog Tradition Alive in Hemingway [ECHS]