Smokehouse Crew Showdown Recap: A 10-Year Celebration to Remember
Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville closed its doors to the public and opened them to the community for a different kind of day on Sunday, November 16: the first-ever Smokehouse Crew Showdown, a parking-lot festival celebrating ten years of Sam Jones BBQ and raising money for Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina. More than 300 guests showed up, cast their votes, and ate their way through a full lineup of ribs, wings, and sides prepared by four in-house teams. By the end of the day, the event raised $22,500 for Make-A-Wish, far surpassing the original goal of $15,000 and enough to help grant the wishes of two local children.
Guests received a plate from each team, a BBQ sandwich, non-alcoholic drinks, and beer vouchers, then made their picks for the People’s Choice winners. The teams showed up with their best ideas and big flavors:
Up In Smoke (Malik, David, Tyreek)
Lemon Jerk Ribs & Wings, Baked BeansKeep It Blazin (Jamie, Terrance, Tracy)
Wicked Lime BBQ Ribs, Smokey Apple Glazed Wings, Asian Potato SaladFired Up (Drew, Alonzo, Harrison)
Georgia-Style Ribs, Cajun 2 Step Wings, Cajun Street CornBearded Pig BBQ (Mason, Ryan, Matt)
Cheerwine & Bourbon Ribs, Honey Chili Crisp Wings, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
When the votes came in, Keep It Blazin took home Best Ribs. Bearded Pig BBQ swept Best Wings and Best Side, securing the points they needed to become the event's first-ever Grand Champion.
The day felt less like a competition and more like a true community gathering. With Should’ve Been Cowboys playing 90s country on stage, Pitt Street Brewing pouring beer, and the staff running a bake sale on the side, the event took on the energy of a small food festival. For many guests, it was an experience they’d never had before.
Behind the scenes, the Smokehouse crew delivered one of the strongest team efforts in the company’s history. Staff members worked hard all day and kept the energy high from prep to cleanup. Sam Jones BBQ Operating Partner Michael Letchworth described it as “one of the best, if not the best, things we’ve ever done for morale and team building.”
The celebration also included a special moment of recognition for four employees who have been with Sam Jones BBQ since the very beginning. Madison Martin, Holt Phillips, Amber Guthrie, and Harrison Thompson each received an engraved cleaver honoring ten years of service.
To close the night, the team reset the restaurant for the week ahead, then gathered in the dining room for a steak dinner cooked by their managers—a quiet ending to a big day.
The success of the Smokehouse Showdown made one thing clear: this won’t be a one-time event. The team plans to bring it back next year and build on the momentum. If opening day set the tone ten years ago, this celebration set it again—rooted in community, driven by the staff, and powered by a shared commitment to doing good together.
