Sweat's was a religious experience
It’s always a bit sad when you pass a place along the side of the road – once full of so many happy memories – and it’s no longer there.
It’s either gone out of business, something has taken its place or it has been torn down.
It’s either gone out of business, something has taken its place or it has been torn down.
I got that feeling late Tuesday afternoon when I turned off I-16 onto Highway 29, about six miles north of Soperton.
In the tiny community of Ormond, not far from the interstate ramps, a gas station and the local Huddle House, I pulled into what used to be Sweat’s Barbecue.
My mouth started watering just sitting there in the parking lot.
I lost track of the number of times I went there over the years. We used to stop there regularly on our family beach vacations to St. Simons.
I can’t say Sweat’s was my all-time favorite barbecue place. That honor is reserved for Fincher’s in Macon.
But Sweat’s was legendary, and folks would travel great distances to eat there. The theory is time-tested. People will go a long way to get good barbecue.
Anyway, Sweat’s closed several years ago. I know it’s been at least 10.
I know at least one other restaurant tried to make a go of it in the old Sweat’s location. It was a seafood restaurant, I believe.
When I passed by in recent years, it looked closed.
But there were signs of life on Tuesday. In fact, a new addition was being added to the front. I don’t have any official word about the renovations, but judging from the façade, it looks to be another one of those metal-sided churches.
That won’t bother me too much.
Eating Sweat’s Barbecue was always somewhat of a religious experience.
5 Comments:
orland?
Ed, try Fresh Air BBQ. They are the champions in my book. They have been up in Jackson for a long time and have a nice place on Riverside Drive in Macon.
John G. Kelley, Jr.
Yep, I'm pretty sure the sign didn't say Orlando.
You are right about Fincher's being the all time favorite BBQ. Absolutely no one does it better than Fincher's!
I have eaten at many BBQ places over the years and next to Zeb's BBQ in Royston, Jimbo's Log Cabin is the best. Located on 441 in Homerville.
I always carry a cooler to Royston and bring home their stew to freeze. Ed, I bet it would put a hurting on your recipe for Gris stew.
M. Hendley
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