Fuel BBQ (120 S Park Avenue, Sanford, FL – 407-328-4848) surprised most of us by announcing that they were opening the doors the weekend of the St. Johns Art Festival. And since then we’ve heard nothing, but delicious things about them. Although they still have some things here and there to work on before they have their official Grand Opening, I was able to get a sneak peek just before they opened their doors as well as a little Q & A from owners Chris & Michelle (also the owners of The Alley Blues).
We are so, so very excited for everyone at Fuel, join in on the excitement and read below to see what is currently happening and what’s to come for Fuel BBQ!!
What can we expect to see on Fuel’s menu?
Here is our regular menu
Meats:
- Beef
- Brisket
- Pulled Pork
- Pulled Chicken
- Smoked Chicken Salad
- St. Louis Style Ribs
- 1/2 Chicken
Sides:
- BBQ Beans
- French Fries
- Cole Slaw
- Collard Greens
- Fried Okra
- Green Beans
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Smoked Mac N Cheese
- Side Salad
- Dinner Salad
Desserts:
- Banana Pudding
This is the menu we will start with but we certainly plan to add specials and such as we go!
Why did you choose Sanford as the home for Fuel?
We’ve owned The Alley blues venue at 114 S. Park Ave for nearly seven years now– BBQ is a great accompaniment to our live music offerings. Also, since no one is doing BBQ in downtown Sanford, it was a natural fit for us.
Does Fuel BBQ have a background story?
In addition to the passion Chris has for the live music side of our business- you can catch him playing keyboard or guitar in our jams from time to time- BBQ has been another of his pursuits since the late eighties. While attending Stetson University, he managed the kitchen at a popular, Orlando-based BBQ chain to help pay for college. Having been in high tech sales ever since, it has been a dream of his to re-live those days by providing patrons with a BBQ experience like none other. While we’re not out to be the biggest, we do expect to be the best– from the long, low- temperature smoking process we employ to the care taken in preparing each of our delicious sides, we’re striving for quality in every meal we serve. It takes dedication but the results are truly worth it.
Can we expect other things than food? Music, drinks?
The Alley is just a step over (literally folks) from Fuel BBQ and will be housing all the events. In addition to a full non-smoking bar, The Alley offers live music 6 nights a week– including local and national acts on Fridays and Saturdays, three of Central Florida’s longest running and best attended jams on Wednesdays at 7 PM, Thursdays at 8 PM and Sunday’s at 5 PM and our latest additions, Acoustic Tuesday’s with Iesha and Friends at 8 PM and First Sundays with Tom and Mark Open Mic at 1 PM. Our full entertainment calendar is available on our website www.thealleyblues.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheAlleyBlues
The outdoor area with the picnic tables looks amazing! Any other cool things we should be on the lookout for?
The posts around the patio will soon support market lights with exposed bulbs– we’re really excited about the additional ambiance the lights will add to our outdoor dining experience. Additional tables (think bistro style two-tops) are also planned as are umbrellas to provide patrons with some shade.
The big question we are all looking for, when can we expect to see Fuel’s doors open? Will there be a grand opening “party”?
We had a soft opened on Thursday April 28th. While we haven’t pinned down our exact hours just yet, we’re open for lunch and dinner starting at 11:00 AM Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday). A grand opening celebration will be planned in the near future (no date yet– we’ll keep you informed).
To stay in the loop with all of Fuel BBQ’s upcoming events and the Grand Opening, please follow them on Facebook or better yet stop by yourself and welcome them to the neighborhood! We’ve heard spectacular things already!!
Claudia’s sister is in town from Germany and guess where they decided to go for lunch? That’s right, Fuel BBQ! Claudia says the food was scrumptious, the staff was nice and the laid back atmosphere made it enjoyable for everyone, including the kiddos! Check out the pictures below to see their delicious meal (BEWARE DROOLING MAY OCCUR) and peek at the bar side, The Alley!
Fuel is exactly what Sanford needed. It is real BarBQue. Not just roasted meat that one covers with sauce. The greens are excellent but they seem to skimp on the serving. My sons loves the smokey macaroni and cheese. My favorite is the brisket. I wish they had more and a cooler seating area. I’m happy it’s here
So happy you and your son enjoy Fuel BBQ. Small businesses are usually very receptive to customer feedback if there is anything that you think would help improve their business be sure to kindly reach out to them privately and let them know and don’t forget to mention how much you love their food.