Harrison bought his first smoker from Ben Lang in Nahunta, GA, and began testing & perfecting his recipe for BBQ pork.

Griffin and Harrison forge a partnership to sell BBQ on the island on a full time basis.

Southern Soul opened the first retail “pop up” location in the courtyard at Palm Coast. The BBQ was initially served only on Saturdays, but the demand was real, so one day quickly moved to two and then three days a week.

Southern Soul moved to its current location at 2020 Demere Road (an old gas station at the round-about in the middle of the island), and the team officially began full time operations.

In February, Guy Fieri visits Southern Soul to sample the food and film a feature episode of Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (DDD).

In March, Southern Soul burned to the ground. That might have been the end of the story, but the local community rallied to ensure the doors would remain open, and the team continued to operate out of a neighboring location (Ziggy Mohoney’s) while the restaurant was under re-construction.

JUNE/JULY: Southern Soul was named as one of the top Barbecue Joints of “The Secret South” by Garden & Gun Magazine.

"The best barbecue has got to be Southern Soul on St. Simons Island. Not only ios the BBQ the best, the sides are somethin’ else!"

Southern Soul was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives(DDD) hosted by the legendary Guy Fieri.

Harrison Sapp featured on BBQ Pitmasters (Season 2, Episode 1).

Southern Soul featured in the New York Times as a favorite hang out for local PGA golfers.

OCTOBER: SSBBQ featured in “The BBQ Show” - a GPB Georgia Traveler Special.

Southern Soul highlighted on “The Barbecue Bucket List” in Garden & Gun magazine

In June, Bobby Dean & Nikki Dinki traveled to St. Simons to take on Southern Soul’s Barbecuban in the “The Drunken Cubano Flip” episode of Junk Food Flip. (Season 1, Episode 3)

In June, Southern Soul is featured on “Authentic Eats” episode of Beach Bites, hosted by Katie Lee. (Season 1, Episode 6)

Southern Soul was was named "The South's Best BBQ Joint of 2017" by Southern Living.

Southern Soul tied with Lexington Barbecue of North Carolina for top honors in the Southern Living reader’s poll for “Best Barbecue Joint 2018.”

"Despite their differences, Southern Soul Barbeque and Lexington Barbecue are linked by a few common threads. Both are beloved institutions in their respective communities, places where friends and families come together for good food and fun."

"They are unwavering in their devotion to slow-cooking meat on wood-fired pits. Their commitment to quality has won both places national fame, luring barbecue fans from around the country and even around the world to the rolling hills of the North Carolina Piedmont and to the shores of southern Georgia.

In March, Griffin, Harrison, Kitty & life-long friend Brad Hummel (Executive Director) formally launch a non-profit initiative inspired by the overwhelming generosity the Southern Soul team experienced in the aftermath of the fire in 2010. The new non-profit, THE FIREBOX INITIATIVE, is created to provide on-going emergency financial assistance to local food service workers who are experiencing crisis due to illness, accident or natural disaster.

In October, The Firebox Initiative hosts the first annual BBQ ON THE BLUFF event at Casgoigne Bluff.  The inaugural event was SOLD OUT, and has been each year since its inception.  Today, this annual Golden Isles tradition (gathering top-notch pitmaster and world renowned culinary talent) has become a fan favorite for both locals and foodies from around the nation.

See Ticket Availability.

Southern Soul was named THE BEST SMOKEHOUSE IN THE SOUTH (for the third consecutive year!) by Southern Living, and was described as having “Top-notch Southern barbecue with a whole lot of soul.”

"Sapp and Bufkin don't do things by half measures. Out beside the restaurant is a collection of oak-fired Lang and Oyler pits on which they cook pork, ribs, brisket, and more. They serve those treasures in a setting that strikes the pitch-perfect chord for a barbecue joint—one that blends the old with the new, the upscale with the down-to-earth."

"Its full throttle (around here) … the place is always packed, and you have a great menu … what can people expect?"

"Slow smoked food.  Everything we do is slow, and homemade - everything.  I don’t use any gas.  I don’t use any other heat source.  It’s just all oakwood from St. Simons, and it takes anywhere from 3 to 14 hours to cook … it really is an art form."

Southern Soul featured in Garden & Gun magazine’s “Guide to the Best New Southern Barbecue Joints”

In March, Southern Soul opened the CHANNEL MARKER “Tiki” BAR, and we've been serving up frozen drinks and salty jokes ever since.  Come grab a bar stool and grab a classic frozen Bushwacker, or ask Sophie about the daily and seasonal specials on the menu.  Its always five o’clock somewhere, and we’re always here.-

In June, Southern Soul opened the SMOKESHOP next door to the restaurant to begin selling branded merchandise. Today, the SMOKESHOP offers a thoughtfully curated blend of SSBBQ sauces & rubs, SSBBQ and Firebox branded apparel, beach and BBQ themed gifts and goods, as well as locally sourced craft & food items. Come visit us in-person or on-line to keep that soulful Southern vibe going all year long!

Southern Soul recognized on Southern Living’s “The South’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints 2022” list.

Featured (twice) by Garden & Gun for having some of the “Best Southern Soup Recipes.”

Yelp named SSBBQ as “Best BBQ Joint in the State of GA“

Guy Fieri re-visited Southern Soul, and SSBBQ was once again featured on the iconic Triple D Nation. (Season 46, Episode 3: Pastrami, Patties and Parm).

Southern Soul received GA’s top spot on the “Your state’s best hole-in-the-wall restaurant” list, compiled by LoveFood.com.

Southern Soul recognized on Southern Living’s “The South’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints 2023” list.