A closed NC BBQ joint reopened for one day and the town went wild. It may happen again
For one day, an ancient name in North Carolina barbecue rose from the ashes.
But we can’t call it a comeback.
A line of cars stretched down King Street in Windsor on Saturday, May 31, eager for a taste of the past.
Bunn’s Barbecue opened for one day only, selling out of hundreds of pounds of barbecue in about 90 minutes. The one-day sale was a bite of nostalgia for many, but a bitter pill for the cars missing out.
Owner Randy Russell said the short-lived revival was something of a lark, but one the community seemed to be pining for.
“It was a whim,” said Russell. “It was about as spontaneous as it could be. Or at least as spontaneous as barbecue can be. It went pretty well. We were absolutely slammed on Saturday.”
Russell closed Bunn’s in 2023, electing retirement over the trials of the restaurant business and the 85 year-old establishment.
Since then, Bunn’s has had a handful of one-off days, but nothing compared to the fervor of Saturday’s sales.
“I feel guilty, I really do, about the people who waited in line and didn’t get a taste of barbecue,” Russell said. “I felt guilty when I closed in 2023. I was a little tired and wanted to enjoy some retirement.”
Bunn’s opened in 1938, operated by founder B.B. Weathers until 1969 when it was sold to Russell’s parents, Grace and Wilbur. Randy Russell said he started working in the restaurant when he was 10 years old.
Now 61, Russell is used to people stopping him in the Windsor Food Lion and asking when he’s going to cook barbecue again. Though he enjoys retirement, he still has the urge to feed people.
Another one-day sale is being considered at Bunn’s Barbecue around July 4th, Russell said, so be on the look out.
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 12:58 PM.
