Red Hot & Blue (restaurant)
Red Hot & Blue is a Memphis style barbecue restaurant franchise founded by political strategist Lee Atwater and former House of Representatives member Don Sundquist of Memphis, Tennessee, among others.
 | |
| Type | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Casual Dining |
| Genre | Smoked BBQ |
| Successor | AJB Capital |
| Founded | 1989 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Founders | Lee Atwater Don Sundquist Bob Friedman Joel Wood Wendell Moore |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 11 |
Area served | Washington, D.C. metro area and suburbs: Fairfax, VA; Leesburg, VA; Williamsburg, VA; Annapolis, MD; Laurel, MD
TEXAS: Plano; Irving; North Richland Hills; Ft Worth NORTH CAROLINA: Raleigh MISSOURI: Joplin |
Key people | CEO: Adam Bradley |
| Products | Hickory-smoked pulled pork, St. Louis-Style "dry" rubbed ribs, Texas beef brisket, smoked chicken wings, famous potato salad |
| Services | Full service and fast casual dining, Catering, Take-Out, & Delivery |
| Owner | AJB Capital affiliate fund |
| Divisions | Dine-In, Catering, Take-Out, Delivery |
| Subsidiaries | Franchise opportunities are available |
| Website | redhotandblue.com |
History
Red Hot and Blue was founded in 1989 by Atwater, Sundquist, Bob Friedman, Joel Wood, and Wendell Moore, with its first location in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.. Friedman described the concept of the restaurant as "pigs, pork, and blues" as reflected in the company's logo. The name is taken from the title of DJ Dewey Phillips' radio show which aired on WHBQ-AM in Memphis in the 1950s.[1]
Red Hot and Blue is served at George Mason University basketball games at the Patriot Center.
In 2018, AJB Capital acquired Red Hot & Blue through an affiliate fund, announcing plans for substantial reinvestment in the system.[2]
On January 17, 2021, the original executive chef and pitmaster, Ernest "Sonny" McKnight, died due to lung cancer. McKnight was Red Hot & Blue's first employee.[3][4]
References
- Hayes, Jack. "Red Hot & Blue readies BBQ blitz". Nation's Restaurant News. FindArticles.com. 25 February 1991.
- "AJB Capital Acquires Red Hot & Blue". PRWeb (Press release). 14 August 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
- Snider, Rick (2021-01-28). "Sonny McKnight, the Affable Pitmaster That Led Red Hot & Blue to National Success, Dies at 74". Eater DC. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
- Fraley, Jason (2021-01-21). "Red Hot & Blue pitmaster Sonny McKnight of Baltimore dies at 74". WTOP. Retrieved 2021-01-30.