Owens & Co.

Grand Champion BBQ and Secret Pint BBQ Owners Open Owens and Hull Barbecue Restaurant in Smyrna, Georgia | Eater Atlanta

Right outside the perimeter at the Eddy apartment complex, I visited Owens and Hull, a new barbecue restaurant backed by pitmasters Robert Owens and Bryan Hull that occupies what was the Smyrna location of Grand Champion BBQ. They merge Texas- and Carolina-style barbecue smoked over Georgia oak, and Owens says he partnered with Hull because Grand Champion's menu didn’t afford him room to expand beyond typical barbecue offerings. Instead of a set menu, they serve a specific menu each day: Thursdays feature a smoked burger topped with White Castle onions and American cheese; Fridays and Saturdays reserve sliced brisket and turkey; and they regularly serve the popular sausages from Secret Pint’s pop-ups (think sausages stuffed with cheddar and jalapeños or roasted poblano peppers and Oaxaca cheese). Hull calls their “craft” approach more labor intensive, and being open Thursday through Sunday lets them hone smoking techniques, source better meats, and create weekly specials and a rotating selection of side dishes. Hours are Thursday 5:30 p.m.–8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m.–7:30 p.m. - Beth McKibben