News

Woody's Bar-B-Q heads to Florida's Gulf

October 8, 2018

Jacksonville, Florida-based Woody's Bar-B-Q has opened in Lehigh Acres, Florida, expanding the brand's presence westward in the Sunshine State. The husband-and-wife team of Misty Woodard and Joe Brockschmidt own and operate the unit at 5781 Lee Blvd., in the Publix Shopping Center.
 
"Lehigh Acres is an excellent community in which to introduce the Woody's Bar-B-Q brand," Yolanda Mills-Mawman, co-founder and president, said in the release. "Its abundance of water features – between the Gulf of Mexico, 175 miles of canals and over a dozen lakes, makes it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether boating or fishing, Woody's Bar-B-Q makes a great meal to go. We also prove an excellent fit for locals looking for a family-friendly restaurant that offers tasty recipes that have stood the test of time or professionals seeking a new place to enjoy lunch. Misty, Joe and the entire Woody's Bar-B-Q corporate team can't wait to see the reaction to our concept from Lehigh Acres residents and their guests."
 
Having been born and raised in nearby Fort Myers, Woodard is extremely familiar with the area, while Brockschmidt is accustomed with the concept of a family owned-and-operated restaurant, having owned and sold two pizza establishments in his home state of Michigan.
 
"We decided to open a restaurant and have a family business to hopefully one day pass it down to our kids," Brockschmidt said. "My wife and I love both BBQ, so we began researching several different BBQ franchises, but once we sat down and spoke with Woody Mills, one of the co-founders of Woody's Bar-B-Q, we knew that a Woody's Bar-B-Q franchise was the only option that really made sense to us. We decided that the Lehigh/Fort Myers area was the ideal location for our restaurant because this is our home, but also because we know that its starved for more restaurants with quality food at a reasonable price."
 
Woody's Bar-B-Q , which opened in 1980, has 18 locations in Florida and has a presence in Augusta, Georgia; Nanuet and Yonkers New York; Huntingdon, Pennsylvania and Murray, Kentucky. Future plans for expansion in Florida include locations in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Cocoa Beach, according to the release.