The Beltline’s New Kroger Reopens with Barbecue from Atlanta Favorite B’s Cracklin’

Today’s the day, Atlanta. The new “725 Ponce” or “Beltline” Kroger finally opens three years after the original Ponce De Leon grocery store with its insensitive moniker was demolished. More importantly, the Kroger’s re-opening means the award-winning B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue is also back in business.

In addition to B’s Cracklin’, the new Kroger across from Ponce City Market includes a beer and wine bar called Pub on Ponce with a walk-up window off the Beltline, a Starbucks coffee with a patio, Murray’s Cheese, and a deli and salad bar selling sandwiches, pizza, and sushi.

As for B’s, the Kroger-based barbecue counter serves a pared-down menu from the shuttered Riverside restaurant. Order wood-smoked chicken, brisket, pork, and rib plates and sandwiches with sides like barbecue beans, collards, cornbread, and hash and rice as well as banana pudding and peach crisps for dessert.

Customers purchase food at a register near B’s Cracklin’ for take-away or dine-in at a small seating area inside the store. Owner Bryan Furman and chef Maximilian Hines (The Lawrence) smoke and cook everything on site.

Furman says the Kroger stall isn’t replacing his Riverside restaurant, which was forced to close after a devastating smokehouse fire in March. The barbecue counter at the Beltline Kroger was apparently already in the works prior to the fire. The pitmaster still plans to reopen his barbecue restaurant, but isn’t disclosing the exact location.

B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

725 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta. bscracklinbbq.com.

• B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue Opens Inside the New ‘Beltline Kroger’ in October [EATL]
• Pitmaster Bryan Furman Is Mounting B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue’s Riverside Comeback [EATL]
• Beltline Kroger primed for October 16 grand opening [CurbedATL]