Smoke the Burger Joint in Jackson Township closes and weighs future plans

JACKSON TWP. — Smoke the Burger Joint has closed in the Belden Village area while it mulls future options for the restaurant.

Based on a Facebook post Sunday, the eatery's future is unclear. Smoke the Burger is at 4472 Belden Village St. NW in a shopping plaza near the mall.

"This pause in operations will be for an undetermined amount of time as we consider options and plans for the restaurant," the Facebook message said.

Doors closed following Sunday's business hours.

Brian Bailey and Tim Hug co-founded both Smoke the Burger Joint and Old Carolina Barbecue Company. Old Carolina has multiple locations in Stark County.

Issues stemming from the pandemic factored into the closure of Smoke the Burger Joint, Bailey wrote in an email response to questions from The Canton Repository on Monday.

"It’s a challenging time to operate restaurants," he said. "Smoke the Burger Joint and many other local restaurants are facing high costs of third-party delivery fees and surging prices for supplies like Certified Angus Beef, frying oil, packaging and much more. Top that off with limited staffing and it’s difficult to keep the doors open."

"Since announcing this 'pause in operations,' we have heard wonderful comments from so many fans in the community," Bailey added. "We are hopeful for a future opportunity to bring back the recipes they love. We will take some time to study the market and determine how that might look and what it will take to succeed, even if that means considering a sale to a restaurateur/entrepreneur looking to pick up the torch."

Bailey and Hug also have local investment partners in both Smoke the Burger and Old Carolina.

There are six corporately-owned Old Carolina locations — Canton, Massillon and Alliance, as well as in Akron, Stow and Rocky River, Bailey explained.

Three franchised locations are in Orrville, Ontario and Altoona, Pa. At one time, there were three other Smoke the Burger locations — Massillon, Wooster and Carrollton.

The original Smoke the Burger location opened on Portage Street in 2013 before moving to the Belden Village Street site in August of 2017, Bailey said.

Employees offered jobs at Old Carolina

All current employees at Smoke the Burger Joint have been offered transfer to the Old Carolina Barbecue Company located nearby at 4710 Everhard Road, Bailey and Hug said in a joint statement on Facebook.

"We would like to thank our loyal fans and guests for eight years of smoked burger glory!," the pair said. "We’ll never forget the five consecutive first place wins at the National Hamburger Festival, and we will cherish the patronage of all that visited our locations. We may be back soon, but in the meantime, please come see us at Old Carolina BBQ!"

Smoke the Burger said all guests with a restaurant gift card or Loyalty Reward balances will be offered equal credit in Old Carolina gift cards or reward points.

Starting Feb. 1, exchanges and transfers can be arranged in person at Old Carolina on Everhard Road.

Some employees had worked at Smoke the Burger Joint for six years, Bailey said.

"It was a first and only job for a few young people," he said in the email. "I shed tears with several that told me they will miss the regular guests they served and the great people they worked with at Smoke the Burger Joint. After a little paid time off, they can establish new connections over barbecue (at Old Carolina)."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On Twitter@REP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Smoke the Burger Joint closes in Belden Village while mulling options