Clay County’s barbecue faithful can start loosening their belts again. Richard Wilkinson, the pitmaster behind the former Rich's Smoke Ring BBQ food truck, is rolling back into business under a new banner: The Disgruntled Pig.
Same smoked staples, new name. Wilkinson plans to bring back the brisket, pulled pork, ribs and classic Southern sides that built his following, and he said he even tracked down the very truck he sold in 2022. The revived operation is still in the works, with Wilkinson aiming to be back on the road by April.
Wilkinson ran Rich's Smoke Ring full time from 2018 through 2022 and kept the fires burning on the side with catering during his hiatus, he said. About a month ago, he “found the same exact food truck” he had sold, a twist of fate that helped spark the reboot, according to What Now.
A Duval County business-licenses listing shows Rich's Smoke Ring BBQ registered to Richard J. Wilkinson as a peddler in January 2018, which lines up with his account of running the truck since 2018. The occupational-license record offers a paper trail that roots the business firmly in the local scene, according to Jax Daily Record.
Menu And The Comeback Truck
The Disgruntled Pig will lean heavily on the Rich's Smoke Ring repertoire: pork, beef brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs and turkey, along with sides like homemade mac and cheese, baked beans and corn casserole. Wilkinson told What Now that many customer favorites will return as he “gets it cranked back up” while the relaunch is still in development.
When And Where To Catch It
Wilkinson is targeting an April comeback and plans to focus on Clay County and nearby Orange Park neighborhoods. One likely hot spot for the truck is Doctors Lake Marina on Fleming Island. The waterfront marina at 3108 US-17 brings boat slips and steady local foot traffic that work well for pop-up vendors. For more details on the site and its location, see Doctors Lake Marina.
For updates and pop-up schedules, the Rich's Smoke Ring Facebook page is still active and could carry early Disgruntled Pig news. Follow the former truck at Rich's Smoke Ring BBQ on Facebook for the latest.
