ST. CLOUD, Fla. — After more than a decade of serving what many across Osceola County consider some of the best barbecue in Central Florida, award-winning restaurateur Javarus “Jay” Brown has announced that Sunday, May 17, will mark the final day of restaurant operations for Granny’s Southern Smokehouse in downtown St. Cloud.

Located next to St. Cloud City Hall on Pennsylvania Avenue, Granny’s Southern Smokehouse has become a staple of the community, known for its slow-smoked meats, signature homemade sauces, and family-driven story rooted deeply in St. Cloud tradition.

Brown shared the emotional announcement with customers this week, saying the decision came after receiving an unexpected offer to purchase the building.

“After much consideration, I want to share that May 17 will be our final day of restaurant operations,” Brown said. “I’ve received an offer to purchase the building—one I simply couldn’t pass up.”

Brown added that while the restaurant itself is closing, the Granny’s Southern Smokehouse brand will continue.

“Granny’s Southern Smokehouse isn’t going away,” Brown said. “Our family will continue the brand, with plans already underway to transition our signature BBQ sauce into retail. You’ll be able to find it in local stores in the near future.”

For Brown, the story of Granny’s Southern Smokehouse has always been personal.

Born and raised in St. Cloud, Brown’s passion for Southern barbecue was inspired by his grandmother, lovingly known as “Granny,” whose cooking and dream of opening a restaurant became the foundation for what would eventually become one of Osceola County’s most recognized barbecue destinations.

According to the restaurant’s story, Granny slow-cooked barbecue with patience, real ingredients, and “a whole lot of love,” creating recipes and sauces that made every meal unforgettable. Although Granny never opened her own restaurant, Brown brought that dream to life in her honor.

Brown first launched Granny’s Southern Smokehouse in 2013 as a custom-built food truck he and a friend fabricated themselves. The truck traveled throughout Central Florida, serving customers from Tampa to Melbourne before eventually leading to a brick-and-mortar location in St. Cloud Manor and later downtown St. Cloud.

Since opening on Pennsylvania Avenue, Granny’s Southern Smokehouse, a beloved cornerstone of downtown St. Cloud, has drawn barbecue enthusiasts from near and far with its mouthwatering meats and signature sauces. Their dedication to crafting tender, flavorful, perfectly smoked meats paired with a sauce perfected through years of passion helped establish the restaurant as one of Central Florida’s top barbecue destinations.

That reputation earned Granny’s Southern Smokehouse multiple honors over the years, including three Positively Osceola Best Barbecue Awards, along with recognition in the Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards through both Critics’ Picks and Readers’ Picks categories, cementing its place among the region’s most celebrated local restaurants.

Brown said the decision to close the restaurant was difficult, especially after 12 years of building the business alongside his family and community supporters.

“This decision wasn’t easy,” Brown shared. “Granny’s has been a huge part of our lives for the past 12 years. But this next chapter will allow me to spend more time with my wife and kids and focus on a better quality of life—something that means everything to me.”

Brown and his wife, Kacy, are parents to four children, and he said spending more time with family played a major role in the decision.

While details about the future restaurant planned for the Pennsylvania Avenue location have not yet been released, Brown said he believes it will be “something great for our community.”

“To everyone who has supported us, shared a meal with us, and been part of our journey—thank you,” Brown said. “You are the reason Granny’s Southern Smokehouse became what it is today.”

As Granny’s prepares to serve its final “Positively Delicious” meals this weekend, longtime customers are expected to stop by one last time to enjoy the barbecue that helped define downtown St. Cloud dining for more than a decade.

“This isn’t goodbye… it’s just the beginning,” Brown said.