By Stefanie Gans
The sign out front still reads Absolute BBQ even though Bacon’s BBQ took over the Manassas Park space this past July.
After a short run, Bacon’s is closing by the end of this month. Owner Ray Bacon blames the location. “We could have been out there with jet packs in our backpacks, and we still wouldn’t have brought them in,” says Bacon.
Announced in a Facebook post, Bacon recognizes the spot as unlucky: “ I guess the failure of the previous four establishments that were in there before us should have been a big hint. Oh well. Like they say its all about Location, location, location.”
I happened to eat there last week during what should have been a lunch rush at 12:30, and it was empty. That fact was particularly surprising after enjoying the pulled pork bowl, the Chipotle-ization of barbecue with sweet, meaty beans; creamy coleslaw; and chunky potato salad with pulled pork on top.
The bowl gives permission to mash all the flavors up, creating the all-encompassing barbecue bite in one mouthful. It doesn’t hurt to add the housemade mustard sauce either.
Bacon’s BBQ will continue as a food truck with its main stop at the 234 bypass near Independent Hill, and the barbecue bowl will be on the menu. Bacon hopes to open a new restaurant soon and is looking at the Chantilly and South Riding areas.
The Travel Chanel will feature the truck in “Grill of Victory” this summer. “I wish we would have been on the Travel Channel last summer,” says Ray. Now he’s left saying, “It is what it is.” / Bacon’s BBQ, 7422 Old Centreville Road, Manassas; check Facebook for truck stops
