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Bobbee O’s BBQ began as one family’s dream — founded on lovingly handed-down recipes, a standout signature sauce, and the belief that good food has the power to bring people together.
Since opening in 2008, the locally owned barbecue joint has paired traditional Southern fare with an atmosphere that reflects its roots; think slow-cooked meats, soulful sides and in-house music that’s meant to “feed the soul” once your belly is full.
All in the family
Bob S. Roberts opened Bobbee O’s nearly 20 years ago. As for the name? Bob’s given first name is indeed Bob (not Robert), and the family felt “Bobbee O’s” had a “soulful/jazzy blues sound.” Roberts managed various restaurants before following his dream to open a spot of his own.
Roberts’ path to barbecue was shaped over decades: Originally from Rowland, NC, he served in Vietnam, lived in New Jersey and California and continuously experimented with recipes of his own while working in the food industry.
Chloria Chandler, Bob’s great niece, has since become a business partner and a leader of the business.
“After encouragement from his wife, Linda, and their sons, he took his sauce and recipes that were inspired by his mother, Missy,” Chandler said. “[His mother] always wanted her sons to know how to cook and take care of themselves, despite gender stereotypes.”
Bob took those recipes and perfected them with the help of Linda and the children. You only have to walk through the door once to realize music is just as essential to the Bobbee O’s experience as the menu.
“Blues and soul music, like any music, is an expression of art,” Chandler said. “It speaks to the history of when music and food was one of the few expressions available to certain folks and it was perfected to a point that it literally ‘fed the soul.’ The music we play and the food we serve go hand-in-hand, and we love for folks to check out the art on our walls and the tribute to Bob’s favorite artist.”
Chandler became involved in her great uncle’s business while searching for a career she could feel passionate about.
“I learned that I loved entrepreneurship,” she said. “Pulling the restaurant to success is still taking a lot of work on my end, but we are growing and becoming many people’s favorite spot to talk about … and we have been for almost 20 years. ([Today)] we are growing into a system and a program versus being a mom-and-pop hole in the wall … We started with no AC and two tables.”
A Charlotte native with a background in business and philanthropy, Chandler is an Ivy League graduate who returned to work alongside her great uncle with the mission of both preserving and growing the family business.
The Menu
The menu at Bobbee O’s is full of barbecue classics done right, with pulled pork, chicken and beef brisket platters. Or, opt for the St. Louis ribs and jumbo wings that can be smoked or fried, paired with a choice of house sauces.
Beyond the regular dine-in service, Bobbee O’s also offers catering and frequently partners with local organizations for fundraisers.
Options like sampler platters, veggie plates, sandwiches and salads round out the offerings, and Bobbee O’s has remained committed to being affordable enough that they can be family-friendly in the truest sense. A barbecue pulled pork platter with two sides and bread runs around $15.99, with pulled chicken similarly priced. For lighter meals, a pulled pork sandwich is often under $8, while three jumbo wings range from about $8.99 to $15.99 depending on preparation.
Bobbee O’s is community-minded
For Chandler, the menu is only part of the story. Bobbee O’s has long prided itself on being present for customers during both celebrations and difficult moments — friends buying food for friends, families gathering after a long day, or groups coming together to mark a milestone. Whether it’s a solo lunch or catering for large groups doing important work in the city, she says the goal is to feed everyone.
That philosophy extends behind the scenes as well. Chandler’s continued vision of the restaurant emphasizes paying employees well, encouraging health in all aspects of life and serving every plate with Southern hospitality. At its core, Bobbee O’s has always operated on a simple but consistent mantra: good food, good friends and good fun.
Chandler’s connection to Bobbee O’s runs just as deep. She jokes that she’s been a fan since before birth, recalling how her mother would tell Roberts during pregnancy that “the baby wants ribs.”
While in college, Chandler even began selling jars of the restaurant’s sauce after her uncle sent her nearly a pallet’s worth to make sure she wouldn’t run out — a move that introduced countless friends to Bobbee O’s long before they ever stepped inside the restaurant.
After all this time, Bobbee O’s is still doing daily what it set out to do: feeding Charlotteans and making the restaurant feel like a second home.
Location: 9401 Statesville Rd, Suite C, Charlotte, NC 28269
Cuisine: Barbecue, Southern comfort food
Instagram: @bobbeeosbbq
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Sunny Hubler
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