The Smoke Pit, the barbecue joint readers voted the Charlotte area's favorite, quietly opened a Lake Norman outpost in Mooresville on Tuesday, and the neighborhood wasted no time finding it. During what was supposed to be a training-day service at 328 W. Plaza Drive, the new spot drew long lines and sold out, with crowds forming before the 11 a.m. start. Some to-go orders were serious haul-level, including as many as 10 racks of ribs and whole briskets. For plenty of locals, the soft opening felt like the first real shot at the chain's brisket without making the drive up to Concord.
In a Facebook post shared after the shift, staff called the turnout "unbelievable" and said "we sold out at a super fast pace," according to the Charlotte Observer. The paper reported that managers and pit crews were scrambling to keep up with the rush and the oversized takeout orders during the training run. The Observer's coverage also includes a photo of the morning crowd and a look at the restaurant's original social post announcing the soft opening.
Lines, brisket and readers' votes
Justin Sides, a spokesperson, told CharlotteFive that the line was already out the door about 30 minutes before the 11 a.m. opening. CharlotteFive had previously named The Smoke Pit the area's favorite in a readers' poll and noted that the brand runs multiple smokers that together can handle roughly 5,000 pounds of meat per day. That built-in fan base, plus a reputation for big portions, helped turn what was meant to be a low-key training day into a fast sellout.
What the Mooresville location brings
The Smoke Pit now lists Mooresville on its official locations page, and the new spot joins existing shops in Concord, Gastonia, Monroe and Salisbury, according to the restaurant's site. Management told local outlets they zeroed in on West Plaza Drive because so many Lake Norman residents were already driving to Concord for their fix, and they plan to run old-school offset smokers and wood-fired cooks in the Mooresville kitchen, per reporting by What Now Charlotte. The brand's owners launched the concept in 2014 and say they want to grow without sacrificing pit time or portion sizes.
Visiting details
The Mooresville address is listed as 328 West Plaza Drive on the chain's site, and the restaurant posted that it planned to reopen from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the following day after the training service, according to the Charlotte Observer. For now, diners can expect a lunch-and-takeout style rhythm similar to the chain's other shops while the team settles into the new space. We will be watching for a formal grand-opening announcement and any extended hours.
