Cash Only BBQ Comes Back to Life In Brooklyn
Cash Only BBQ has brought back its popular Cuban sandwich, available from Knickerbocker Market.
This is the web edition of the NYC BBQ Weekly newsletter. If you would like to receive this in your inbox for free each week, subscribe here!
Cash Only BBQ reluctantly closed its doors in Williamsburg, Brooklyn back in February 2019. At the time, owner and pitmaster Corey Cash closed up after a rent dispute with his landlord.
But Cash Only BBQ has now come back to life during the craziest time possible, as New York is fighting the coronavirus. In a way, it makes sense that Cash Only BBQ could work during the pandemic because it was always primarily a takeout and delivery operation. While sit-down joints have been hurting or temporarily closed, small takeout and delivery businesses have continued to operate.
“I always knew it would come back, so it was only a matter of time,” Cash said. “The irony of timing my dead restaurant coming back during the pandemic is great. I'm glad it's back and that it's being repurposed to be accessible to the Bushwick and Brooklyn communities.”
To be able to bring back Cash Only BBQ, Cash first needed a space. So he worked with a few friends and business partners to recently open up Knickerbocker Market in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The market sells essential goods, as well as cocktails to go and a “deli counter” that serves as the home for Cash Only BBQ’s food.
Corey Cash, owner of Cash Only BBQ, had to close his shop in 2019, but has returned in a new format.
Cash Only BBQ’s menu can be ordered from Knickerbocker Market on Caviar (and more delivery apps coming soon.) It includes favorites from the old Cash Only BBQ menu including a brisket melt sandwich, Cuban pork sandwich, hot honey smoked chicken sandwich, and pulled pork banh mi sandwich.
The food and market goods are available for takeout and delivery in the Bushwick and surrounding areas. Cash hopes to add outdoor seating soon so people could eat outside when pandemic fears subside somewhat.
On top of running a new market and restarting the BBQ business, Cash also recently organized an effort to feed and support some of New York’s unsung heroes — delivery workers. He served 150 free meals and distributed protective equipment to delivery workers in Manhattan on Thursday and hopes to be able to do it every week.
Cash said he was a bike messenger in a previous job and understands the challenges these tireless workers face. “I've sustained myself being a bike messenger in this city and it's not an easy job,” Cash said. “It's hard enough without the added stress of the pandemic.”
He also said the introduction of contact-less delivery, while important, has also created a barrier between these workers and the general public. "I think because of that separation they aren't being thought of," Cash said. “But thankfully there are a large group of New Yorkers that want to help."
The popular brisket melt from Cash Only BBQ is back. (Photo by Thrash Comics)
Cash said he plans to expand his Cash Only BBQ business by working with bars that have closed and help them reopen with a food program that sources prepared food from Cash Only BBQ.
“Any closed restaurant or bar can set up a cheap one-to-two-man operation with cocktail delivery and implement a Cash Only BBQ deli counter,” Cash said. “I know I can replicate what I'm doing with barbecue to these closed down bars to reopen themselves because legally they need a 50 percent portion of food sales to maintain their liquor license.”
Here’s hoping to see more new or revived operations like Cash Only BBQ open up during this insane time.
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
EAT ALL ABOUT IT
Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:
Fink’s BBQ Smokehouse has valiantly stayed open during the coronavirus with takeout and delivery, but it now faces a meat shortage. (Fink’s BBQ
If you don’t already have a nice stock of meat in your freezer from the grocery store, you’d best get on that soon because a potential meat shortage is on the way. The coronavirus pandemic has closed many slaughterhouses and meat processing plants in the nation. Even some BBQ joints are having trouble getting meat, including Fink's BBQ Smokehouse in Dumont, NJ and Fink's BBQ and Cheesesteak Roadhouse in Suffern, NY.
Those who want to get stocked up on BBQ meats before the shortage may want to turn to Goldbelly, which has barbecue items from New York vendors and many from around the country that can be mailed to your doorstep.
Hill Country Barbecue Market owner Marc Glosserman (who also chatted with NYC BBQ recently) spoke to AM NY about his restaurants making adjustments to survive and Hill Country’s efforts to feed healthcare workers.
Operation BBQ Relief, one of the nation’s top barbecue non-profits, has teamed up with DJR Catering to serve food to individuals in need in Toms River, NJ. The DJR crew will be at Presbyterian Church in Toms River on May 1, May 8, May 15 and May 22.
The Quakertown Fire Company (located in Pittstown, NJ) will be hosting a free BBQ this Saturday, May 2, for those in need. “Our community is a small town and we know there are people in need or could just use a little boost,” said Quakertown Fire Company Chief Bradley Patkochis told NJ.com.
Matt Groark of Groark Boys BBQ in Washington Township, NJ received a $10,000 grant from Sam’s Club and was able to tell part of his story on Good Morning America. Groark has made charity a big part of the part-time operation (his day job is teaching) and said most of the money will go right back into the community.
Last but not least, PIX 11 has spotlighted House of Que in Hoboken, NJ in its Takeout Tuesday series. The joint serves Central Texas-style barbecue and “dishes up over 4,000 lbs. of in-house smoked chicken, sausage, brisket, pulled pork, and ribs weekly.”
IRL BBQ
NOTE: Given the coronavirus crisis, I will be leaving this section blank for the next few weeks. Some events have been canceled entirely while others have been postponed to the summer or fall. Many events during the next two to three months are now up in the air, but I’ll be doing my best to keep the website up to date with events that are confirmed.
Check out the full up-to-date NYC BBQ calendar here.
SAY HELLO
If you're not already subscribed to the newsletter, sign up here. You can also follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you want to write for NYC BBQ Weekly, sponsor the newsletter, or let me know about the best new barbecue you’ve tried, send me an email and let’s talk!