is cocoons bbq good? is somewhere else better?

Maybe BeachBimmer could snatch that up too! :clap_1:

Now there's an idea! :clap_1: But he'd have to promise to keep the tiramisu. And the tuna dip. And the breakfast croissants. And the coffee. And the bbq.

Is that too much to ask? ;-) :floor:

A question and a thought:

QUESTION: Is Gridley's still in Memphis? When I went to school in Memphis (25 years ago) I used to love to eat their ribs. And, they had the best biscuits and unbelievable pecan pie.

THOUGHT: My brother-in-law manages a very successful restaurant in middle Florida, but has always wanted to have his own. He grew up in the catering business and entered the Memphis-in-May contest a few times. Do people think there's enough year round demand here to support a barbeque shack? He'd pack up and move in a heart beat if he thought there was a good opportunity.

I'm thinking a casual restaurant (is there such a thing as an upscale barbeque place?) with a big smokin' shack off to the side. Where I grew up there was a barbeque place that had a 25 foot square cinderblock outdoor barbeque shack with screened sides and about 250 sq ft of hip high barbeque pits. Hickory only. So much smoke that even with an industrial exhaust fan at the top of the roof of the shack, the whites of the main barbequer's eyes were smoked golden yellow! And of course outdoor dining under the trees with hanging strings of bulbs and lots of cold beer, corn-on-the-cob, cole slaw, baked beans with pieces of barbeque in it, and fresh sliced tomatoes.

What else could a person hope for???

...

THOUGHT: My brother-in-law manages a very successful restaurant in middle Florida, but has always wanted to have his own. He grew up in the catering business and entered the Memphis-in-May contest a few times. Do people think there's enough year round demand here to support a barbeque shack? He'd pack up and move in a heart beat if he thought there was a good opportunity.

I'm thinking a casual restaurant (is there such a thing as an upscale barbeque place?) with a big smokin' shack off to the side. Where I grew up there was a barbeque place that had a 25 foot square cinderblock outdoor barbeque shack with screened sides and about 250 sq ft of hip high barbeque pits. Hickory only. So much smoke that even with an industrial exhaust fan at the top of the roof of the shack, the whites of the main barbequer's eyes were smoked golden yellow! And of course outdoor dining under the trees with hanging strings of bulbs and lots of cold beer, corn-on-the-cob, cole slaw, baked beans with pieces of barbeque in it, and fresh sliced tomatoes.

What else could a person hope for???

If the cue and service is good, price reasonable, and location great, he can make a run of it, but I he will have to sell many beers to make the rent each month. Commercial rents in this area run a minimum of $25 per sq ft, triple net. I know of no cinder block building like you describe which would be available for a reasonable price to sell cue and beer.

And of course outdoor dining under the trees with hanging strings of bulbs and lots of cold beer, corn-on-the-cob, cole slaw, baked beans with pieces of barbeque in it, and fresh sliced tomatoes.

What else could a person hope for???

Absolutely nothing. It all sound yummy!!!!

QUESTION: Is Gridley's still in Memphis? When I went to school in Memphis (25 years ago) I used to love to eat their ribs. And, they had the best biscuits and unbelievable pecan pie.



Mr. Gridley died probably 10 or more years ago and I guess the family didn't keep it going. I always liked their beans, which I think had a little curry.

If the cue and service is good, price reasonable, and location great, he can make a run of it, but I he will have to sell many beers to make the rent each month. Commercial rents in this area run a minimum of $25 per sq ft, triple net. I know of no cinder block building like you describe which would be available for a reasonable price to sell cue and beer.

Rent is #1, finding employees is #2, and Prada Bag check-in security #3 😀 Unless he's financially capable of firing up the smokers with $50 bills, SoWal ISN'T his place.

If it is "seriously" good BBQ (and I mean SERIOUSLY GOOD!) the area between the military bases--in Okaloosa County--would provide him with year around customers. But remember--the well-traveled military folks are very savvy when it comes to what's considered "really good" food (BBQ, Thai, Italian, German, etc.). If the BBQ doesn't meet their high standards, the place will fold like a "Cheap $50 Romanian Suit from Walmart."

treefrog, the Gridleys that was off of Winchester near Kirby Parkway is no longer open. Been closed for years. The one that used to be on Austin Peay is closed. Don't remember seeing the one that was at 4774 Summer Ave. anymore.
There is a Gridleys II on Stage Rd. near Summer Avenue. The phone book is showing one on Poplar Avenue in Collierville and one on Germantown Parkway but I am not so sure that they are open. Don't ever go into Collierville. The one on Stage Rd. is the only one I have actually seen and it is open.

treefrog, the Gridleys that was off of Winchester near Kirby Parkway is no longer open. Been closed for years. The one that used to be on Austin Peay is closed. Don't remember seeing the one that was at 4774 Summer Ave. anymore.
There is a Gridleys II on Stage Rd. near Summer Avenue. The phone book is showing one on Poplar Avenue in Collierville and one on Germantown Parkway but I am not so sure that they are open. Don't ever go into Collierville. The one on Stage Rd. is the only one I have actually seen and it is open.

Oops, my mistake.

I stumbled onto this thread because I am looking for a BBQ place tonite. The only good BBQ in New York is in Manhattan......actually in Harlem. Harlem has had a massive turn-around in the last 10 years but it retains much of its Southern routes. In Arizona the BBQ is mediocre at best. My all time favorite BBQ was at Rendevous in Memphis......but there was also a great place in Knoxville on the river but I can't recall the name of the place, it was fancy though. Anyway, it looks like Dan's is where I will go tonite. BTW, was there ever a BBQ cook-off ?

Haven't had cocoons but if 98 bbq is open it's pretty good.
Also Pigs Alley on the west side of Sandestin.
Good Luck!

I'm scared to rejoin this thread. The last time I posted on it, Kurt referred to me (obliquely and discreetly, of course) as a Memphis BBQ snob. Oh well, here goes anyway...

Several ex-Memphians I know give double thumbs-up to Pigs Alley. I'm keen to try it soon.

The Memphis in May festival is all about bar b que. It's a week long competion that draws teams from all over. These people are serious about pig meat.

You can get some pretty heated discussion on dry versus wet rubs and don't even ask for ingredients. They might have to kill ya.

I've had meals from Cocoon's a few times because it was convenient to the condo at Cassine Station. For the most part, the food was acceptable for the price. For $5.99+, you can't find plate lunches anywhere else in the area. The barbeque is pretty good, but nothing compared to what I've had in Texas and Tennessee.

I think someone will eventually buy the place for the property, not necessarily for the business. There's been quite a bit of high-end development around this "less than high-end" establishment.

So.....my advice is to enjoy Cocoon's while it is still around.