SHELBY, N.C. — Shelby's legendary Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge will reopen for customers Wednesday after a fire closed the restaurant for nearly a week.
Firefighters responded to a fire at the business on Oct. 24. It took crews about 15 minutes to get the fire under control. The flames were contained by a firewall, saving the building from being destroyed. No one was hurt during the fire.
Red Bridges has been a part of the Shelby community since opening its doors in 1946 and has gained a reputation for serving some of the finest barbecue in North Carolina. The barbecue is slow-cooked overnight using hickory for its flavor. Several residents told WCNC Charlotte they've been going to Bridges for years and are thankful the restaurant can reopen.
"I've been to Bridges many times," Bill Walker said. "It is famous in this area. I understand they will be open and underway soon, and that is a good thing for everybody who loves barbecue."
Owner Natalie Ramsey says while it will take time to totally rebuild, they're ready to reopen.
"They are going to have to rebuild the pit," Ramsey said. "That is going to take some time, it's going to take a long time, but we have some cookers in the back and we are just going to keep going and selling our barbecue."
Ramsey's grandparents founded Bridges nearly 80 years ago. She said some workers were burning the pits off, a process they use to clean them when the fire got out of control.
“It just hurts my heart, it really does," Ramsey said. "People don’t realize how much this really is and how much goes into what we do. There is a lot of damage. It just hurts my heart, but it’s fixable.”
Bridges' hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Contact Richard DeVayne at rdevayne@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.