By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

HARPERSVILLE – Richey’s BBQ in Harpersville reopened recently under new management.

Kenneth Smith Jr. and his son, Kenneth Smith III, along with other family members, opened the barbecue restaurant about two months ago.

“We’ve had no complaints so far, and everyone has liked our barbecue,” said 22-year-old Kenneth Smith III.

The family lives in Cropwell, but intends to move to a farm in Harpersville in the next few weeks.

The father-son pair owned two restaurants prior to working in construction before the economy fell. Now, they’ve teamed up again to open the barbecue restaurant.

The menu currently features, among a list of other offerings, homemade desserts, fried green tomatoes, Cajun-friend dill pickles, smoked chicken and barbecue made with homemade barbecue sauce, butt rubs and rib rubs.

“The sauce is what sets us apart,” Smith said, noting a return customer said they should keep the sauce under “lock and key” to protect the recipe.

“My dad taught me pretty much everything I know,” Smith said. “We’re both big, ol’ boys who’ve eaten well our whole lives. Barbecue just comes easy.”

Smith said the family plans to make the restaurant a “steak and seafood” joint to have “everything anyone could want,” including steaks, tilapia and more. The Smiths are working on Richey’s beer license to offer beer to accompany their barbecue.

Richey’s also offers catering for events. Law enforcement receives a 50-percent discount, Smith said.

“Everything is handmade, all the way down to our hamburgers,” Smith said.

Richey’s BBQ is located at 141 U.S. 231 in Harpersville. The restaurant, which may have a new name in future months, is open Sundays for lunch, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Tuesdays-Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. The restaurant also has a drive-through service. Call 642-9167 for more information.