Owners feeling good about Monroe BBQ

Prime BBQ Smokehouse grows amid pandemic since Dec. 17 opening.

“People have been great,” Sam Jabro said about his Prime BBQ Smokehouse. “I think Monroe needed a barbecue place.”

When Sam Jabro and two of his cousins stopped into a Monroe restaurant that was closing, they were interested in buying the equipment and one day opening their own business.

But the owner convinced Jabro and his cousins, Eddie and Wally Yasso, to buy everything inside the restaurant.

That was the beginning of Prime

BBQ Smokehouse on American Way that opened during the height of the coronavirus pandemic and has seen a “slow and steady” increase in business, Jabro said.

On Dec. 17, the first day they opened, Jabro and the Yasso brothers worked the restaurant by themselves, because they couldn’t find any employees. A banner hung over the name of the former restaurant, and they had 30 customers.

Since then, they have hired several employees and replaced the banner with a permanent sign.

“It’s been great,” said Jabro, 29, who lives in Miamisburg. “We have a good feeling.”

Jabro said he loves smoking

meat at home and wanted to take that passion and turn it into a profession. He said all the meat at Prime BBQ is smoked every night and he monitors the temperature of the meat from his home.

Prime BBQ offers a wide variety of options, including brisket, pulled pork, chicken, ribs, hamburgers, smoke sausage, chicken sandwiches, bourbon salmon, smoked wings, fish, fried chicken, tacos, salads and numerous side dishes. Jabro said everything is prepared fresh.

He said the Monroe community — from the government building, school district and local businesses — has been very supportive. They have catered for local companies and last week, after the lunch rush, several customers wearing shirts from Monroe businesses, ordered carry-out.

“People have been great,” Jabro said. “I think Monroe needed a barbecue place.”

The restaurant has reviewed numerous positive reviews on its Facebook page, and Jabro said one customer from Texas said it was the best barbecue he had eaten.

“We’re doing something right,” Jabro said.

RICK MCCRABB / STAFF Prince Ahmed delivers a pulled pork sandwich and french fries at Prime BBQ Smokehouse in Monroe, where the owners said the community has been very supportive.