Norfolk BBQ joint BarQ opening Richmond spot in former Starlite space on Main St.

barq main street Cropped

The space was most recently home to SB’s Main Street Love Shack. (Mike Platania photo)

In the early 2000s, shortly after graduating from the University of Florida where he played defensive tackle on the Gators’ football team, Jayme Campbell found himself in Richmond. He’d had a job at Circuit City, but the then-Henrico-based electronics chain was collapsing, so he took a gig working in the Fan as a bouncer at Starlite Dining & Lounge at 2600 W. Main St.

Now, decades later, Campbell is preparing to open a restaurant of his own in the same building at the corner of Main and Robinson streets. 

Campbell recently leased the space for a Richmond outpost of his barbecue concept, Bar-Q. Along with Starlite, the space was previously home to Brunch and most recently SB’s Main Street Love Shack

A Florida native, Campbell said he grew up watching his late grandmother cook barbecue on an open pit for the family. 

jayme campbell3 Cropped

Jayme Campbell

“That was just a normal occasion for me, it’s what I saw her do,” Campbell said. “As I got older I realized that was bad-ass. She was manning an open fire as an old woman, and the family came over to eat. I gained a lot more respect for it as I got older.”

In adulthood, he began experimenting with smoking meats for friends and family. Campbell eventually linked up with Chris Fultz, co-owner of Scott’s Addition’s ZZQ. Campbell said he and Fultz used to travel to barbecue competitions around the state in the early 2010s. 

Campbell turned barbecue from a hobby into a career in 2017, when he launched Bar-Q in Norfolk. It was initially a pop-up, and since 2019 it’s been based out of Norfolk’s Bold Mariner Brewing Co. 

Campbell, who now lives in Richmond, said he’s been thinking of giving Bar-Q its own dedicated space since the pop-up days. 

​​”We’ve always thought that it would be cool to have an awesome bar and serve barbecue,” he said. “We always knew that we wanted to create that vision and be able to pull it off on our own.”

The 2,000-square-foot space on West Main Street came available in the spring when SB’s closed after two years in business to focus on its Lakeside location. Campbell recently finalized a lease on it, with Thalhimer’s Annie O’Connor, Danielle Beckstoffer and Katie Siegel representing the landlord in the deal. 

bar q

Campbell said Bar-Q makes a variety of regional barbecue styles. (Courtesy Bar-Q)

When he started Bar-Q, Campbell said he focused heavily on Texas-style brisket barbecue, but that’s not the case anymore. While Bar-Q still offers brisket, Campbell said he makes all kinds of regional styles, including Kansas and North Carolina. 

“We just don’t want to get tied into a certain category, because what I’ve learned is everyone eats barbecue differently,” Campbell said. “I’d say we love all styles of barbecue. I’d say we’re a mesh.”

Campbell said a few poultry dishes are likely to be on the Richmond menu and he may also bring back the burritos, tacos and grilled cheese sandwiches that Bar-Q served in its early days as a pop-up. 

“But we haven’t finalized the menu yet,” he said. “We’re still working on it.”

Bar-Q will operate with counter service and include a bar with beer taps and a few specialty drinks. Campbell said its tentative hours will be from around 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

“We’re not going after a late-night crowd,” he said. 

Campbell said the space doesn’t need major renovations and he’s aiming to open by the end of the year. The Norfolk operation will continue. 

BarQ will have another new competitor in the neighborhood, as Hayden Fisher is preparing to open Brickwood Barbecue in the former F.W. Sullivan’s space at 2401 W. Main St. 

barq main street Cropped

The space was most recently home to SB’s Main Street Love Shack. (Mike Platania photo)

In the early 2000s, shortly after graduating from the University of Florida where he played defensive tackle on the Gators’ football team, Jayme Campbell found himself in Richmond. He’d had a job at Circuit City, but the then-Henrico-based electronics chain was collapsing, so he took a gig working in the Fan as a bouncer at Starlite Dining & Lounge at 2600 W. Main St.

Now, decades later, Campbell is preparing to open a restaurant of his own in the same building at the corner of Main and Robinson streets. 

Campbell recently leased the space for a Richmond outpost of his barbecue concept, Bar-Q. Along with Starlite, the space was previously home to Brunch and most recently SB’s Main Street Love Shack

A Florida native, Campbell said he grew up watching his late grandmother cook barbecue on an open pit for the family. 

jayme campbell3 Cropped

Jayme Campbell

“That was just a normal occasion for me, it’s what I saw her do,” Campbell said. “As I got older I realized that was bad-ass. She was manning an open fire as an old woman, and the family came over to eat. I gained a lot more respect for it as I got older.”

In adulthood, he began experimenting with smoking meats for friends and family. Campbell eventually linked up with Chris Fultz, co-owner of Scott’s Addition’s ZZQ. Campbell said he and Fultz used to travel to barbecue competitions around the state in the early 2010s. 

Campbell turned barbecue from a hobby into a career in 2017, when he launched Bar-Q in Norfolk. It was initially a pop-up, and since 2019 it’s been based out of Norfolk’s Bold Mariner Brewing Co. 

Campbell, who now lives in Richmond, said he’s been thinking of giving Bar-Q its own dedicated space since the pop-up days. 

​​”We’ve always thought that it would be cool to have an awesome bar and serve barbecue,” he said. “We always knew that we wanted to create that vision and be able to pull it off on our own.”

The 2,000-square-foot space on West Main Street came available in the spring when SB’s closed after two years in business to focus on its Lakeside location. Campbell recently finalized a lease on it, with Thalhimer’s Annie O’Connor, Danielle Beckstoffer and Katie Siegel representing the landlord in the deal. 

bar q

Campbell said Bar-Q makes a variety of regional barbecue styles. (Courtesy Bar-Q)

When he started Bar-Q, Campbell said he focused heavily on Texas-style brisket barbecue, but that’s not the case anymore. While Bar-Q still offers brisket, Campbell said he makes all kinds of regional styles, including Kansas and North Carolina. 

“We just don’t want to get tied into a certain category, because what I’ve learned is everyone eats barbecue differently,” Campbell said. “I’d say we love all styles of barbecue. I’d say we’re a mesh.”

Campbell said a few poultry dishes are likely to be on the Richmond menu and he may also bring back the burritos, tacos and grilled cheese sandwiches that Bar-Q served in its early days as a pop-up. 

“But we haven’t finalized the menu yet,” he said. “We’re still working on it.”

Bar-Q will operate with counter service and include a bar with beer taps and a few specialty drinks. Campbell said its tentative hours will be from around 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

“We’re not going after a late-night crowd,” he said. 

Campbell said the space doesn’t need major renovations and he’s aiming to open by the end of the year. The Norfolk operation will continue. 

BarQ will have another new competitor in the neighborhood, as Hayden Fisher is preparing to open Brickwood Barbecue in the former F.W. Sullivan’s space at 2401 W. Main St. 

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Bill Foster
Bill Foster
1 month ago

Go Gators! Can’t wait to visit.

David Franke
David Franke
1 month ago

Finally some BBQ in the Fan. Thank you!

Justin Reynolds
Justin Reynolds
1 month ago

This sounds like a great addition to the Robinson St corridor! I’m glad the old Starlite location will be back to operating in the evening and I hope they’ll consider offering weekend brunch, too.

Nichole Elkins
Nichole Elkins
1 month ago

Glad to see that space with a new tenant coming soon. Just going to mention though that us Gen-Xers fondly refer to that space as the old Soble’s place. So, when I mention this to my friends and they ask where it is, I’ll just say “You know… where Soble’s used to be.” Looking forward to trying it out!

Michael Morgan-Dodson
Michael Morgan-Dodson
1 month ago
Reply to  Nichole Elkins

Soble’s was there for years and StarLite made it to 16 years; since 2018 it has been 3 or 4 places (someone after StarLite planned but never opened). Strange the corridor seems to have turnover everywhere except Helens!

Arnold Hager
Arnold Hager
1 month ago
Reply to  Nichole Elkins

Like your comment. We boomers remember when Soble’s opened a block north on Floyd before moving down to Main St. Great burgers!

Tory McGowan
Tory McGowan
1 month ago

The regional style is Kansas City, not Kansas. Most of the best (and original) barbeque joints in that region are on the Missouri side. Glad to see this space come to life again!

Last edited 1 month ago by Tory McGowan
Reggie Davis-Real Deal
Reggie Davis-Real Deal
1 month ago

Jayme it’s great to read this article on your business. Anytime I see any former player during my time at Florida doing something great and positive, I like to acknowledge them. Wish I was there to try some of that grub!