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Woody’s Bar-B-Q became part of the Melbourne, Florida food scene over 20 years ago, and the location has been in the highly capable hands of multi-unit franchisee, Greg Helwig, since 2015. Greg virtually grew up in the business – having landed his first job at a BBQ joint at just 14. Although he grew up to pursue a criminal justice degree and was working as a police officer, he couldn’t shake his dream of opening a BBQ restaurant of his own one day. When Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Melbourne hit the market not far from his home, the lifelong Melbourne resident saw this as a sign and “went for it!” Since then, Greg has purchased and had a hand in the success of two additional Florida locations, Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Holly Hill and – most recently – Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Cocoa.

Good Eats and Great Events

Today, the most popular dish on the menu at the Melbourne eatery among its large fanbase is Woody’s Signature Baby Back Ribs – a love the owner himself also shares. Greg also highly recommends the Texas Beef Brisket, adding that they “smoke” the competition when it comes to those two meats. To keep things interesting for its guests, Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Melbourne switches up its daily specials fairly regularly. Its tried-and-true All-You-Can-Eat Bar-B-Q Chicken and Buy One Get One Half Off Pulled Pork Dinners always draw a crowd on Sundays, and Kids Eat Free Mondays are a mainstay for local families with young children to kick off the workweek. For its patrons who prefer to bring the great taste of Woody’s Bar-B-Q home, the restaurant is proud to partner with Door Dash and Grub Hub to offer delivery. Because BBQ travels well, Greg insists that its also an easy choice for take-out and catering. He and his staff love catering events of all sizes.

Location, Atmosphere, Menu and Staff Prove Winning Combination

Another factor that enhances the popularity of Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Melbourne is its location on Highway 192, near the Melbourne Square shopping mall, with a large concentration of residences nearby. In addition to his restaurant’s convenient location, inviting rustic interior and signature menu of slow-smoked BBQ and comfort food sides, Greg credits his staff with making guests feel welcome.

“My staff is loyal, and I consider them part of the family,” said Greg. “Each employee has played a special role in making our restaurant as successful as it is and in getting the best Bar-B-Q out to our customers. I appreciate their hard work and dedication on a daily basis. They ensure that our guests are treated with southern hospitality, meaning they are greeted as soon as they walk in the door and our goal is to make sure they leave happy and with a full belly!”

Living the Dream

With community at the heart of his mission, Greg is proud to be a member of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and his restaurant supports a number of local schools. When not hard at work in the kitchen or out in the dining room greeting guests at Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Melbourne or one of his other locations in Holly Hill and Cocoa, Greg and his wife, Mandi, can be found in the congregation at First Baptist Church of Brevard with their five-year-old son, Maysen on Sundays. Greg is excited for Maysen to start Jiujitsu this summer and VPK in the fall.

“I have lived in Melbourne my whole life and am now growing my family and my business here,” added Greg. “Some people think of Woody’s as just another chain restaurant, but we are local residents living and working right here in their city. I think that makes a difference in the relationships we are able to build and the services we can provide to our customers. Knowing that I am helping people to enjoy their friends and family over great food is the best part of the job. With all the stress and uncertainty in the world these days, I am happy to have a part in providing a place for good food and fellowship to the local community and its visitors.”

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Woody’s Bar-B-Q of Melbourne is located at 2227 West New Haven Avenue in West Melbourne. Take-out orders can be called in to 321-951-9163 or placed online through the location’s webpage. To stay up to date on the location’s daily specials, Greg and his team invite you to connect with the Melbourne restaurant’s Facebook page.

KB 1/19/23