"Opened in Roswell in 2011 by Robert Owens, Grand Champion BBQ expanded to Milton, Marietta, and Krog Street Market before the Smyrna restaurant, opened in 2020, eventually became the lone remaining location after Owens closed the other four. While Owens says Grand Champion BBQ was successful in Smyrna, he felt the menu didn’t afford him room to expand beyond the typical barbecue offerings, which prompted his partnership with Bryan Hull and the creation of Owens and Hull." - Beth McKibben