FORKS TWP., Pa. – A business offering “low and slow wood-smoked BBQ,” including ribs, brisket, chicken and pulled pork, is in search of a new permanent location.
You Got Pork’D, specializing in premium barbecue and homemade sides, is planning to depart Leaf Cigar Bar, at 90 Mort Drive in Forks Township, by the end of March, owner Brian Jones told 69 News.
Leaf decided not to renew You Got Pork’D’s lease, and the barbecue business is now in search of a new “home base,” Jones said.
You Got Pork’D owner Brian Jones is pictured near one of his business’ smokers.
Jones announced the “bittersweet update” on Monday on You Got Pork’D’s social media pages.
“After an amazing run together, Leaf Cigar Bar has decided to end our lease so they can bring the kitchen back under the Leaf name,” Jones stated in the online post.
“We’re genuinely sad about this chapter closing — Leaf has been a fantastic partner, and we’ve loved serving you from there. We’ll continue serving up all your favorites from Leaf through the end of March (or until further notice) — so come see us soon!”
In seeking a new permanent location for You Got Pork’D, Jones would prefer to stay in the Easton area, but he is open to putting down roots in Allentown, Bethlehem and other parts of the Lehigh Valley as well.
The ideal new spot would feature an indoor kitchen/prep space and outdoor area for the smokers, Jones said.
It could feature indoor dining space, but Jones would also be happy with finding a spot for just takeout.
“One of the toughest things is finding a place that has some space outdoors for our smokers because we want to stick to that authentic, wood-smoked barbecue,” Jones said.
“Ideally, we’d like to have our own space. I think to fully, truly reach our potential, that would be ideal, for sure. That’s not to say that we aren’t interested at all in other partnerships. It would just have to be the right situation.”
Jones is open to suggestions from the public, and anyone with prospective locations for You Got Pork’d is welcome to contact him by sending a direct message via the business’ Facebook and Instagram pages or e-mailing info@yougotporkd.com.
“This is our chance to find a true “home base” of our own — a space where we can keep the wood smokers firing, expand our menu, and keep bringing you the smoky BBQ you love,” the online announcement continues.
You Got Pork’d originated in 2020, and it began using Leaf’s kitchen for prep work for its food truck in 2021 before expanding to also serving Leaf guests in 2023.
You Got Pork’d offers a variety of wood-smoked barbecue, including ribs, brisket, chicken and pulled pork, along with other menu highlights such as mac and cheese bowls, sammiches, loaded tots, tacos and nachos.
Meats are prepared using signature rubs and “low and slow” smoking techniques.
Customers also can enjoy homemade sides such as coleslaw, pickleslaw, baked beans, pasta salad, potato salad and mac and cheese.
Jones also is continuing to operate You Got Cone’D, the nearly year-old shop offering specialty cones filled with wood-smoked barbecue or locally made ice cream along with other sweet and savory options, at 2300 Butler St. in Wilson.
The to-go eatery operates across from Wilson Area High School at Butler and South 23rd streets.
You Got Cone’d traces its origins to 2024, when You Got Pork’D started serving a new menu item, a waffle cone stuffed with mac and cheese, choice of meat and barbecue sauce topping, which turned out to be a huge hit.
“When I saw that the former Ice Cream Corner was available, I thought, ‘This is perfect!'” Jones told 69 News last year.
“It was a great opportunity to marry the two – ice cream and barbecue – at one location. The space is built for ice cream, and we already offered the barbecue waffle cone. So, we decided to go for it and just continue with a variation of the branding.”
Jones is hoping to find a mostly move-in ready restaurant space for You Got Pork’D within the next 30 days, but if that doesn’t happen, You Got Pork’D’s food truck and catering operations will continue regardless.
