From Backyard Smoker to Brick and Mortar: How Russell Barbecue Is Helping Revive Sheffield

From Backyard Smoker to Brick and Mortar: How Russell Barbecue Is Helping Revive Sheffield

Full BBQ tray from Russell BBQ in Sheffield, Alabama

SHEFFIELD, AL - Russell Barbecue has only been open a little over a year, but it already feels like one of those places that belongs to Sheffield.

Housed inside a fully renovated former warehouse, Russell Barbecue is the result of years of slow growth, hands on work, and a commitment to doing things the right way. Owner and pitmaster Josh Russell did not start with a restaurant plan. He started with a smoker at home.

It Started With a Craving

Josh and his family moved to the Shoals from Kansas, and one thing became clear pretty quickly. The kind of barbecue he grew up eating was hard to find locally. Brisket, smoked turkey, and house made sausage were not common at the time.

So he started cooking at home.

“At first it was just for friends and family,” Josh says. “Then it kind of grew from there.”

Private catering gigs and pop ups followed. As demand grew, so did the realization that operating quietly was not sustainable. Special event permits meant inspections every single time. Food trucks were not practical with large smokers. Eventually, the only real option left was to commit fully.

Russell BBQ building construction in progress.

Taking a Leap on an Abandoned Building

The building that now houses Russell Barbecue was far from ready when Josh first found it. He came across it almost by accident while scrolling Zillow on vacation. Two days later, he was back in town. The next day, he put in an offer.

At the time, the building had no doors, no windows, and a roof that leaked badly enough for rain to pour inside. Josh has videos of water cascading down from the stage area when it rained.

What followed was a fourteen to sixteen month renovation. Much of it was done by Josh and his family themselves.

Josh, his dad, his brother, and his wife built the tables and benches. They painted the space and refinished the bar. Electrical and plumbing had to be hired out, but anything they could do themselves, they did.

“We wanted the place to feel sturdy and welcoming,” Josh says. “And it helped save money too.”

That effort shows the moment you walk in.

A Texas Foundation With Midwest Roots

Josh did not come to barbecue through formal training. He came to it through years of traveling with his grandpa and dad, always stopping to eat barbecue wherever they went.

The real turning point came after a trip to Texas, visiting family near San Antonio. That first true Texas barbecue experience stuck.

When he returned to the Shoals, Josh bought his first smoker, a small Old Country Brazos from Academy, and started cooking regularly. Today, the operation has scaled to a thousand gallon smoker, but the approach has stayed the same.

Russell Barbecue blends Texas technique with Midwest influence. You can taste it in the sauces and especially in one menu item that has quickly become a favorite.

Pork belly burnt ends in the smoker at Russell BBQ

“They got so popular that now we do them everyday…”

Ask regulars what brings them back, and the answer often comes quickly.

The bacon burnt ends.

Inspired by pork belly burnt ends found in parts of Texas and by brown sugar bacon from a Nashville breakfast spot, Josh developed a version that felt familiar but different. The bacon is cured in house, a process that takes a full week, then smoked and finished with brown sugar.

Originally, the bacon burnt ends were only offered on Fridays.

“They got so popular that now we do them every day,” Josh says. “If we have a big week, we might run out for a day because of the cure time.”

They are rich, balanced, and carefully done. A good reflection of the menu as a whole.

Old School Barbecue With No Shortcuts

One thing that clearly sets Russell Barbecue apart in the Shoals is how the food is cooked.

Everything is smoked using real wood and coals. There is no propane, no natural gas, and nothing electric involved in the cooking process.

“If the power went out, we could still cook,” Josh says.

The wood itself is sourced locally. Josh connects with suppliers through Facebook Marketplace. Some logs arrive ready to use, others are split down on site using a splitter behind the building. Occasionally, customers even offer fallen trees from their own property, trading wood for food.

It is a full circle process that keeps everything close to home.

Josh Russell, owner of Russell BBQ and his family

Built for Community

Russell Barbecue was designed to be shared.

Long communal tables fill the dining room. Guests push tables together, sit with people they did not arrive with, and strike up conversations over trays of barbecue.

“That was intentional,” Josh says. “We wanted it to be community focused.”

That matters in Sheffield, a city that is often overlooked within the Quad Cities. Along with nearby spots like Groundhog, Boxcar, and other downtown businesses, Russell Barbecue is helping bring consistent life back to the area.

One Year In and Gaining Momentum

Russell Barbecue opened Labor Day weekend of 2024. The first few months were strong. Then came the holiday slowdown that surprises many first year restaurants. By spring, business picked up again. Summer has been busy ever since.

Early growth came almost entirely from organic Facebook posts and word of mouth. Josh had lived in the Shoals for nearly ten years and leaned on friendships and local support to spread the word.

That ripple effect is still working.

More Than a Restaurant

Russell Barbecue is proof that good food, made with care, can help bring energy back to a place. It is built by hand, fueled by real fire, and designed to bring people together.

And in Sheffield, that matters.

Russell Barbecue is open now in downtown Sheffield. Come hungry. And if the bacon burnt ends are available, do not skip them.

The reviews speak for themselves.

Google reviews average 4.7 stars at over 108 reviews.

Yelp reviews average 5 stars across over 2 reviews.

Download the Hey Shoals app to get your exclusive coupon to Russell BBQ and other local restaurants in the Shoals.

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Address: 301 Raleigh Ave, Sheffield, AL 35660

Phone: (256) 314-9090

Website: russellbarbecue.com