Rodney Scott shifts to pop-up events, has no plans to stop cooking

Even after his restaurant chain shuttered last month, James Beard Award-winning chef Rodney Scott isn't hanging up his apron. The pitmaster is already back in action, shifting his focus to a new series of pop-up events throughout his home state.

Back to the Pit

According to WCIV in Charleston, S.C., Scott hosted a live barbecue pop-up event in Charleston this past Friday. He confirmed that the recent closures have done nothing to dim his passion for the craft, teasing fans with a promise that there is more to come: “Well, I will say this ... buckle up, you’re in for a treat.”

Fans won't have to wait long, as the next event is already on the calendar for June 12 at The Bus Shed in Charleston.

Navigating Restaurant Closures

The pivot to pop-ups follows a difficult period for the chef. Last month, his chain of barbecue restaurants closed—including the flagship location in Charleston—as multiple eateries within the Pihakis Restaurant Group shuttered. In a previous interview with the Post and Courier, Scott expressed that he was “surprised and disappointed” by the situation, noting that he remains hopeful about reopening his locations, with the Charleston site serving as his top priority.

Scott’s professional footprint in Birmingham began in 2019 when he opened his Birmingham location at 3719 Third Ave. South in Avondale. That expansion, carried out in a partnership with restaurateur Nick Pihakis, eventually grew to include two more Birmingham-area spots.

The Pihakis Restaurant Group has faced significant legal turbulence recently, with the firm facing lawsuits and liens totaling more than $14.7 million since April. Additionally, a Delaware-based lender is suing the group over a $350,000 loan tied to the South Carolina operations.