Rodney Scott ‘surprised and disappointed’ by restaurant closures, aims to reopen

Pitmaster and chef Rodney Scott is setting his sights on a comeback. Following a wave of sudden closures that began in April involving the Pihakis Restaurant Group, Scott is determined to bring his signature barbecue back to the community.

A Surprise Shutdown

In an interview with the Post and Courier, Scott admitted he was blindsided by the situation. "This is tough to process knowing how much heart our team and our guests have put into these places," he shared, expressing both surprise and disappointment at the abrupt end of the chain.

The acclaimed chef, a South Carolina native, first launched his culinary footprint in Charleston in 2017 through a partnership with Birmingham restaurateur Nick Pihakis. The brand expanded into the Birmingham market in 2019, taking over the former Saigon Noodle House and Bottletree Cafe site at 3719 Third Ave. South in Avondale, followed by two additional Birmingham-area locations built on that same partnership.

Legal and Financial Hurdles

The closures extend well beyond the barbecue brand. At least a dozen restaurants under the Pihakis Restaurant Group banner shuttered last month. The company is currently mired in significant legal trouble, navigating three lawsuits totaling over $1 million in unpaid debt, alongside liens from developer Michael Mouron exceeding $12.6 million. Furthermore, Itria Ventures filed a suit earlier this month regarding a $350,000 loan connected to the South Carolina operations.

The Road Ahead

While Scott does not hold an ownership stake in the Pihakis Group, he remains focused on the future. His primary goal is to fire up the smokers again, starting with the Charleston location. "Right now, my focus is on our people - the folks who showed up every day and treated this like family - and on figuring out a path forward so we can get back to doing what we love: cooking whole hog barbecue and bringing people together," Scott said.

His attorney, Michael Gruenloh, confirmed that negotiations with the restaurant group are a possibility, but they are prepared to pivot if necessary. Options include legal maneuvers to distance Scott from existing litigation or launching a new venture independently. "Rodney doesn’t need the restaurant group to keep serving barbecue in the Lowcountry," Gruenloh noted. "If a pivot is required to build a better foundation, Rodney will pivot."

Shifts in the Birmingham Dining Scene

While some concepts remain dark, four former Pihakis establishments have managed to reopen under new ownership models:

• Hero Doughnuts & Buns, founded in 2016 by Wil Drake, has returned to Homewood as Full Circle.
• Salice in Homewood is operating under new ownership while keeping Chef Rita Bernhardt as an operating partner.
• Little Donkey also transitioned to new ownership to keep its doors open.
• Magnolia Point, the Southside Gulf-cuisine staple, continues to serve customers.