Robert Ray, owner of both Wilmington Mellow Mushroom locations, has announced plans to open a Colorado-based barbecue franchise at 5818 Oleander Drive, the former home of Flip’s Bar-B-Que.

Ray first stumbled up on Moe’s Original Bar B Que while on a ski trip in Vail, Colorado.

“I’ve basically been obsessed with this place for the past three years,” Ray said. “It was started by three guys from Alabama, and the food is very similar to the food I was used to growing up in Alabama.”

Ray describes the food as very fresh, with meats smoked daily and classic Southern sides prepared on site. The menu features Alabama-style pulled pork, ribs, wings, turkey and chicken smoked over hardwood and served with two types of sauce.

“It’s like North Carolina-style barbecue on steroids,” Ray said.

Customers can expect a relaxed atmosphere with lots of craft beer and an outdoor picnic area, according to Ray. Renovations will be underway soon, and a fall 2015 opening is anticipated.

“We love pizza and we love barbecue,” Ray said. “This just feels like the perfect next step, and we’re super excited to bring a family friendly barbecue joint to the same place where people in Wilmington were coming for years.”

Flip’s Bar-B-Que closed in 2013, but many longtime customers have fond memories of meals they enjoyed there over the years. Among them is Howard Coupland, an associate with Cape Fear Commercial who represented Ray in the lease transaction for the property.

“Besides the great food it was a treat to go there as a child because of the large collection of taxidermy,” Coupland said. “And I think everyone was particularly fond of the black bear.”

Ray says that as word has begun to spread about his takeover of the property he’s received numerous requests to “bring back the bear.”

“I’m going to do all that I can to bring back the bear,” Roberts said. “That would be a pretty cool way to connect to the history of the place.”

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