Full Moon Bar-B-Que

Full Moon Bar-B-Que is a chain of barbecue restaurants founded by former Alabama Crimson Tide assistant football coach Pat James. He opened the original location in Southside (still called Pat James' Full Moon Bar-B-Que) in 1981 and sold it in 1995 to brothers David and Joseph Maluff, who expanded the chain to six locations in Alabama under their Jam Food Co., Inc name, and began franchising it to other cities under their Maluff Foods LLC moniker. They have made their Hoover location, on Patton Chapel Road into the flagship of their Alabama concept.

Full Moon is known for its zingy sauce and the spoonful of hot chow-chow which tops each sandwich. The restaurant also serves a full menu of barbecued meats, sandwiches, baked potatoes and sides. It is also known for its carrot cake and chocolate dipped "half moon" cookies.

In February 2005 Maluff partnered with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to open Ray Lewis' Full Moon Barbecue in that city's Canton neighborhood. That restaurant is more upscale in its design, and has a few extras such as grilled salmon and filet mignon on the menu. The brothers have made plans to seek out other partnerships with well-known athletes in Nashville, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. and hope to one day expand nationwide.

In 2007 the Baltimore restaurant's investment group sold its share of the restaurant to Lewis, whose family now operates it themselves. The former investors filed suit against the Maluffs alleging mishandling of funds, but voluntarily dropped the suit before it went to trial.

Full Moon's Tuscaloosa location was destroyed during the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak. A manager was able to get all employees and customers into a cooler before the twister hit the building. No fatal injuries occurred but 3 had to be hospitalized with injuries. The Maluffs indicated they wished to rebuild the McFarland Boulevard site but would relocate to another site in Tuscaloosa if a deal could not be reached with the building's owner.

Locations

• 470 Colonial Promenade Parkway, Alabaster
• 525 25th Street South, Southside Birmingham
• 1428 Walker Chapel Road, Fultondale (opened September 2008)
• 337 Valley Avenue, Homewood
• 2000 Patton Chapel Road, Hoover
• 4635 U.S. Highway 280, Inverness
• 1383 McFarland Boulevard, Tuscaloosa (destroyed April 27, 2011)

References

• Lockyer, Sarah E. (May 3, 2004) "Full Moon expands its universe, seeks starring role in barbecue segment." Restaurant News
• O'Hara, Jo Ellen (March 2, 2007) "Full Moon Bar-B-Que adding to its menu." Birmingham News
• Farmer, Liz (June 20, 2007) "Investors in Baltimore eatery file $6M claim." The (Baltimore) Record
• Fullman, Lynn Grisard (December 28, 2009) "A review of favorite recipes from Birmingham area restaurants." Birmingham News
• Williams, Roy L. (May 15, 2011) "Rebuilding: Small businesses bore the brunt of the April 27 tornadoes, with some dealing with buildings destroyed, customer traffic disrupted and employees picking up back home." Birmingham News

External links

• Full Moon Bar-B-Que website