- April 28, 2024
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Restaurant co-owners Brandell Campbell and Scotty Aycock have brought a taste of Texas barbecue to Ormond-by-the-Sea.
Located at 1452 Ocean Shore Blvd., Lottie Bell's BBQ opened in early December 2023. The restaurant offers mesquite smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork and more. It was born out of a food truck, started by Campbell in 2020.
"Since then, we've had a really good following with the locals," Campbell said. "Met a lot of good people. Met a lot of good friends through the truck."
One of those was Aycock.
He became one of Campbell's customers, and as they continued to get to know one another, they found they shared a passion for cooking — and a passion for barbecue.
"He feels like one of my five brothers, really," Campbell said. "And that's really good to have somebody that close that you're working with."
They decided to open Lottie Bell's BBQ last summer. Campbell noticed that the space at 1452 Ocean Shore Blvd., previously occupied by Salty Farms Seafood Market and Restaurant, was available.
"It all just fell into place, so the timing was right," Campbell said.
Barbecue used to be simpy a hobby for both men. Campbell, who is from Texas, said he's barbecuing for about 35 years. Aycock, originally from Georgia, has been barbecuing for most of his life as well.
"That's why we try to keep this as homely feeling as it can be," Aycock said. "We want people to feel like they're sitting at home where it's just quiet and peaceful."
Campbell moved to Florida in 2006 and he worked in the mining business until 2019. And while it wasn't his full time job yet, he would enter barbecue competitions.
"Always barbecue — You've got to stick with what you know," he said with a laugh.
Campbell and Aycock source the mesquite wood they use to smoke meat straight from Texas.
"That's what keeps us separate from everybody," Aycock said.
Some people who aren't typically big fans of smoked barbecue like what Lottie Bell's BBQ offers, he added.
"We don't sauce none of our meat when it comes to the table," Aycock said. "... Nothing is overpowered."
The restaurant is named after Campbell's grandmother, a 4-foot-eight-inch woman of Blackfoot Native American descent who always made sure he and his brothers never left her house without eating. She'd be humbled to know a restaurant was opened in her name, but she'd say she didn't want it in the first place, all with a smile, Campbell said.
His grandaughter's name is Lottie Bell too.
"Hopefully, through the generations, we'll keep the name in the family," Campbell said.
Lottie Bell's BBQ is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
