Bee’s Barbecue Signs Lease for Vine Street Storefront

Cincinnati Native to Open Restaurant’s Second Location in 3CDC Space

CINCINNATI (June 7, 2023) – After essentially maxing out the space at his first restaurant in Madisonville, Bee’s Barbecue owner Brendan “Bee” Hague has signed a lease with Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) to open a second location. The 2,900-square-foot space is located at 1403 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.

Hague got his first smoker in 2014 and began hosting friends and family to enjoy his barbecue. Experimenting with different techniques over time, he got better and better at the art of smoking meat. Eventually, Hague began hosting pop-ups at various locations and his business took off.

“At the time, my brother was the Chef de Cuisine at Dutch’s Larder in Hyde Park,” Hague said. “The restaurant would close at 4 on Sundays and then I’d arrive, smoking trailer in tow, ready to sell my barbecue. Before long, we had a line of people waiting for us to open every week. At that point, I knew it was time to find a permanent spot for Bee’s.”

In early 2020, Hague found a brick-and-mortar space in Madisonville where he would eventually open his first permanent location; while opening was delayed a year due to the pandemic, Bee’s Barbecue has become a neighborhood favorite of Madisonville and the surrounding areas. After only two years, Bee’s has grown to the point of needing a second location, and the timing was right when the space at 1403 Vine Street became available just as he was ready to expand.

“It was really a turnkey situation,” Hague said of the new location. “The space had all the equipment I needed to hit the ground running.”

The new space will be a casual neighborhood hangout with a more sports-centric feel, featuring multiple TVs, both indoor and outdoor seating, and a full bar with 10 draft lines. The menu will feature prime brisket, pulled pork, a variety of sausages, smoked chicken wings, specialty sandwiches and homemade sides. Bee’s takes pride in sourcing ingredients locally as often as possible, tapping Avril Bleh and Mackie’s for his meats, and only using local wood for the smokers. Hague plans for the restaurant to start out opening at 4 PM, offering a full dinner service that transitions to a bar menu during the later evening hours – and he can’t wait to get started.

“I’m so excited to be on Cincinnati’s center stage,” Hague said. “This is home for me. Some people leave and come back – but I’ve never left. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to serve more of the city I live in.”

Hague is very familiar with Cincinnati – especially its thriving restaurant & bar scene. In years past, he has worked at MadTree, Liberty’s Bar & Bottle, Neon’s, Dilly, and the shuttered Grammers Bar. Today, his brother co-owns Allez Bakery, just a short walk from Bee’s Barbecue’s new space.

“It’s always exciting to work with an entrepreneur whose business is growing so much it needs a new location – especially one with as much passion for his city, and his food, as Brendan,” said Lindzie Gunnels, Commercial Leasing Manager with 3CDC. “Bee’s Barbecue is already known for its amazing brisket, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with them to expand their reach so even more people get to taste their delicious barbecue.”

Bee’s Barbecue is expected to open late this summer in plenty of time for football season. A grand opening event is currently being planned and details will be shared as they become available.

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