LAS VEGAS — The new Joecs BBQ SmokeHouse in Las Vegas is now open for business, and the restaurant is getting the attention of the barbecue world.
The restaurant is one of the first to open in Las the state, and its owner, Joey Ritchie, is thrilled to be opening it for the public.
“I’m very proud of this,” he said.
The barbecue joint is the brainchild of Ritchie and his brother, Joey, a licensed barbecue inspector in Southern Nevada.
Joey said the family is working with the state to ensure that the establishment has proper permits, permits that would allow for a barbecue smoker to operate, and has set up a Facebook page where fans can sign up to receive updates about the new business.
“We’re just trying to make sure that it’s legal,” he added.
The family has also partnered with the Henderson County Department of Licensing and Regulation to get the permit.
It’s an unusual partnership, but Ritchie said it’s a good one to have.
“It’s very important that we do our job,” he explained.
“You know, we’ve been around a long time and it’s time to move on.”
A barbecue joint in Las is a rarity in Nevada, and there’s been a lot of work on that front.
In 2014, the city of Henderson signed a $1.2 million contract with the International Flavors of Las Vegas, which is owned by New Jersey-based company Smokestacks, to install a smoker.
Smokestack was founded by three brothers and a sister in Las, and their company has more than 1,000 locations around the country.
The Smokes started the business out of their home in Southern California in 1996.
The brothers and sister, who were part of the Smoketastic BBQ Festival that took place in Las in 2013, are now trying to open a barbecue joint.