Smokehouse & Social Club
Our Story
From a boy in the projects with a hustler’s grit to a smokehouse brand with national reach — always putting the food first.
Humble Beginnings
Huggy grew up in the projects, where every day meant learning how to hustle and make something out of nothing. The streets taught him resilience, but food gave him hope. He found small ways to bring people together with a plate of something warm, even when times were lean.
One evening, fate stepped in. He met an old voodoo woman who saw his spark and shared her secrets — how to fold soul food tradition with the bold edge of Cajun spice. That magical mix lit a fire in Huggy’s imagination and in his pit.
The First Shack
Armed with nothing more than a rusted drum smoker and a dream, Huggy opened a small shack on a quiet corner of Chicago. The smell of smoke and spice pulled in neighbors and strangers alike. Word spread fast — people said it was more than food, it was an experience.
From Shack to Chain
That little shack grew into a movement. One location became two, two became ten, and now Brother Barrel dots the map from coast to coast. Each restaurant carries a bit of Huggy’s first spark: soulful, smoky, a little spicy, and never pretentious.
Huggy Today
Even now, Huggy is in the shops, sleeves rolled up, tasting, tweaking, and talking with guests. He’s dedicated to his craft and even more to his customers. Ask him what matters most, and he’ll grin and say: “It’s the food, baby. Always the food.”