Treehouse BBQ’s Texas-style Angus beef brisket, smoked for 12 to 16 hours and served with BBQ baked beans, coleslaw, and a cornbread muffin | Treehouse BBQ

For a city this food-obsessed, St. Pete has always had a shortage of great barbecue. But that may be about to change.

After building a strong following as a mobile catering company, Treehouse BBQ will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant next month at 229 62nd Avenue North in the Edgemoor neighborhood of north St. Pete.

The 1,200-square-foot space was previously home to Pasghetti, Tasty Thai, and Green Light Sushi Bar.

A regular vendor at the weekly Kenwood Sunday Market at St. Pete High, Treehouse BBQ will operate mainly as a carry-out spot, with limited indoor seating for approximately 20 guests.

The menu will offer the same barbecue styles Treehouse BBQ has become known for.

Treehouse BBQ will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in north St. Pete, taking over the former home of Pasghetti | Google Maps

Its Texas-style Angus beef brisket is smoked for 12 to 16 hours, while the Carolina-inspired pulled pork is seasoned with a house spice blend before being slow-smoked and pulled.

Additional offerings include St. Louis–style pork ribs, pulled chicken, and sausages such as Black Forest pork and Georgia red hots.

Three house-made sauces include a sweet-and-tangy original sauce, a vinegar-based Carolina mustard, and a strong vinegar option.

Side dishes will include collard greens with smoked bacon, four-cheese mac and cheese, Southern-style green beans, coleslaw, barbecue baked beans, potato salad, cucumber-tomato salad, and cornbread muffins.

A pulled pork sandwich plate with bBQ baked beans, coleslaw, peppers, pickles, and a cornbread muffin | Treehouse BBQ

Owner and Pitmaster Mike Leander said the new kitchen will also allow for the addition of desserts such as bread pudding, banana pudding, and peach cobbler, along with beverages like lemonade and sweet tea.

Weekly specials, including items like wings or jalapeño poppers, are also under consideration.

Leander said convenience and manageability were key factors in selecting the new location.

“I’ve had my eye on the spot for a while,” Leander told St. Pete Rising. “We live in the area and were looking for a small spot I could easily manage and where I could park my big smoker.”

Treehouse BBQ launched in 2021 after Leander and his partner, Tina Vierus, shifted plans for a restaurant that had been underway in 2019 but stalled during the pandemic.

Mike Leander, Owner and pitmaster of Treehouse BBQ | Treehouse BBQ

Before getting started, the pair spent time traveling through established barbecue regions, including the Carolinas, Tennessee, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Texas, drawing inspiration that would shape the Treehouse BBQ menu.

Treehouse BBQ will continue to attend at the Kenwood Sunday Market at St. Petersburg High School, where it serves weekly from June through August between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., and from October through May between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The new restaurant will be open Wednesday through Saturday, beginning service at 11 a.m. and operating until sold out, which Leander expects to be around late afternoon.

Be sure to follow Treehouse BBQ on Instagram and Facebook for new menu offerings and updates on the grand opening.