Former OSU Buckeyes and friends opening new restaurant in Linden area
Former Buckeye teammates Chimdi Chekwa and Bryant Browning are partnering with college friends Mike Johnson and D’Andre Martin to open a new Linden area restaurant, The Pit BBQ. The restaurant will open on Sept. 3. The Pit BBQ Grille will be located at 3545 Cleveland Avenue near the Northern Lights Shopping Center.
The restaurant will feature grilled meats reminiscent of backyard barbecues. The offerings will include Polish Boy (kielbasa topped with fries and cole slaw), Polish Girl (kielbasa, fries, cole slaw and pulled pork), turkey ribs, ribs tips and pulled pork. Classic sides will also be featured including green beans, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and greens.
Patrons will enjoy a special secret barbeque sauce that is a combination of tastes favored of the foursome. “I can’t reveal the recipe, but our customers will like the sweetness of the sauce,” said Chekwa.
The team worked to open a restaurant for several years and is excited to finally open The Pit. “I have been interested in doing a restaurant for the last few years,” said Chekwa. “After thinking about our experiences with food and what we thought we would like to have in the community, we concluded that everyone loves good BBQ and that’s how we decided to come together to bring Columbus The Pit BBQ.”
They selected the Linden community because it reminded them of their hometowns. “We wanted to be a local business to this community. We feel we will be a positive contribution to those in the area,” Chekwa said. “In college I used to go shopping and attend church in the Linden area and it reminded me of my home in Cleveland,” said Browning. “I thought it would be great to do something for the community that reminded me of the community that I grew up in.”
The owners are very appreciative to the support they have received from other business owners. They have been mentored by Chris and Dee Dee Barnett. The Barnett’s own a restaurant in the Hilliard area.
The Pit BBQ will be open for lunch and dinner. It will be closed on Mondays.
Chekwa is currently a cornerback for the Miami Dolphins. Browning is an insurance adjuster at Nationwide Insurance.
