A fixture on Statesboro's Blue Mile is changing hands. Stacy Underwood announced Saturday via social media the sale of the building at 434 South Main Street, home to Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place on Main. While the building has been sold, the Uncle Shug's business itself will continue operations at its other locations.
Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place on Main will cease operations at the downtown location on December 24, 2024. However, fans of Uncle Shug's barbecue need not worry. The Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place at 105 US Highway 80 East and the Uncle Shug's Chicken Barn at 12399 US 301 will remain open, serving their regular menus. The company's catering operations will also continue. Underwood said that all employees have been offered jobs at their other locations.
"We are so grateful for the communities support over the years and hope to continue seeing all them at our other locations or in the community as we continue to cater events," said Stacy Underwood. "I know the Blue Mile team will elevate this location, as they have with all their other popular restaurants. I am excited to see how they continue to impact the Blue Mile and our community in positive ways."
The new owner of the building is Blue Mile Catering, which will relocate its catering operations from its current location at 454 South Main Street. Blue Mile Catering has outgrown its current space and plans to continue using the newly acquired facility for catering meetings and events. The building at 454 South Main also houses Aura Cocktails & Tapas, a popular speakeasy-style bar that operates by reservation only.
Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place on Main has been a popular venue for local civic clubs, businesses, and organizational meetings. Underwood acquired the building and the then-operating R.J.'s Grill from Randy Nessmith in 2016. He continued operating it as R.J.'s Grill until 2019, when he renovated and rebranded it as Uncle Shug's Bar-B-Q Place on Main.
The building is situated on the revitalized Blue Mile and adjoins the proposed Creek on the Blue Mile project. The sale marks another development in the ongoing revitalization of the Blue Mile and downtown Statesboro.
Traver Vliem, an associate with Blokk Commercial Real Estate, handled the sale of the building. He noted that this acquisition is one of many exciting projects currently in development on the Blue Mile and in the downtown area.