Fred Fleming, once a home builder in Naples, Fla., decided that his true love was food # barbecue to be exact.
So in 1993, Fred decided to open a new barbecue restaurant on the 4400 block of Fourth St. N in St. Petersburg. Unsure of how it would turn out, Fred and his wife, Cassie, became anxious.
Over the next eight years he opened eight stores, all of them local. Fred had built the business using home recipes, hands-on management and a whole lot of love.
Then, in 2001, he and Cassie sold their locations, hoping to retire early and enjoy the Fla. sun. All of these stores eventually went out of business, lacking the original recipes and management.
Fred began to grow tired of the slow, mundane life of retirement. In 2009, he opted to re-open his restaurant right across the street from their original location. The restaurant at the original location is now Lucky B’s Bar & Grill. The Flemings now had to deal with new competition over the barbecue lovers of St. Pete.
The new Fleming’s, now called Champion’s BBQ, opened in 2010 and consequently helped put two other barbecue restaurants out of business.
“We helped change Luckie B’s business plan from a barbecue place into a Bar & Grill.” said Cassie’s son, Joe, who is always chatting with customers and brings the small, family atmosphere that they love.
Fred died two years ago, leaving Cassie to continue the family’s legacy. Cassie works around 65 hours a week; she’s the glue that holds Champion’s BBQ together.
Ian, a full-time employee, does a bit of everything and has been with the Fleming’s since 2010 when they re-opened.
Together, Joe, Cassie and Ian continue to pour that extra bit of lovin’ into the food, which attracts the repeat business they rely on.
“Business is getting better. It’s always busy in here,” said Cassie.
The lunch rush is no small matter; the tables inside are often full.
When asked what they are best known for, both Cassie and Ian exclaimed, “The ribs and the smoked corned beef!”
The sides are also delicious. Green beans, macaroni and cheese, and baked beans are just a few of the choices here. Both lunch and dinner plates come with two sides.
Between 1993 and 2001, Fleming’s has won more than 100 awards in barbecue competitions across the U.S. and Canada, winning “Best Ribs in America” twice. They’ve also won awards for best sauce.
Anyone who loves slow-cooked meat will approve. For starters, they have very lean pork and beef.
“All of our meat comes from the finest cows and pigs of the American Midwest,” Cassie said.
But perhaps we’ll never know how long they cook their meat.
“We don’t discuss family secrets here.” Cassie said.
Great barbecue isn’t complete without great sauce, however, and customers will have five to choose from: hot, mustard, honey barbecue, regular and vinegar. My favorite is the honey barbecue, but Cassie quickly scolded me: “Oh honey, you’ve got to try either hot or mustard, they’re the best.”
I couldn’t argue with her, but after trying all five, I secretly still choose the honey barbecue.
The combination of great food and a relaxed atmosphere make Fleming’s a place that any fan of barbecue is sure to love. They even serve a signature light lager called Companions. which Budweiser makes just for them.
You don’t have to come into the store. Food Now (www.foodnow.com) will deliver a rack of ribs upon request.
The meat is extremely lean. The beer is local. But what really makes this a special place are the people that put it all together. With a little love, even barbecue can become better.
If you go:
Champions BBQ is at 4400 Fourth St. N.
Dinner plates are under $12 and lunch plates or sandwiches are under $8. Both include two sides.
Hours:
Sunday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday: Closed
