Behind the scenes of a Charlotte BBQ joint with the team who designed it

In 2019, VisionBuilders Design set out to design a space worthy of selling the “best barbecue in Charlotte.”

First things first: VisionBuilders Design is a Charlotte-based foodservice and restaurant design company. Their portfolio is full of cool spaces around the city (and beyond).

In 2019, VB+D president Mark Sutherland and his team were asked to design Noble Smoke, a barbecue restaurant opening on Freedom Drive.

The goal: “Create the best barbecue place in Charlotte using lessons learned from the barbecue legends,” says Sutherland.

The results: Success. Noble Smoke is one of Charlotte’s most popular BBQ restaurants and just opened a second location at Optimist Hall.

• The success is thanks in part to the beautiful and functional space the VB+D team created on Freedom Drive. Explore an interactive layout.

We got a behind-the-scenes look at Noble Smoke from the VB+D team. Here are six things we learned.

(1) Smokehouses and fire codes don’t always mix

Noble Smoke’s barbeque is made adjacent to the restaurant in a smokehouse the size of a small home. 

The goal was to create a traditional smokehouse, however, “traditional smokehouses are outbuildings with fire pits that naturally vent to the outside, and Mecklenburg County fire codes require mechanical hoods,” says Sutherland. 

The strategy: “Our team was able to design a smokehouse incorporating traditional smokers (a nod to the past) with sleek and innovative vent hoods (that embrace the future).”

(2) An open kitchen was a priority

Here’s why: The VB+D team thinks of open kitchens as a front row seat in a theater.

“Open kitchens transform the relationship between guests and their food. They also foster direct engagement between chefs and their customers,” says Kathy Fowler, VB+D’s Lead Foodservice Designer.

(3) You can eat with the legends (almost)

Here’s how: The aforementioned open kitchen is surrounded by the 23-seat Legends Counter built in honor of the South’s barbecue legends.

It’s one way the team paid homage to the legends who helped shape the barbecue Noble Smoke makes today.

• “We wanted the space to feel uniquely modern with undertones that are steeped in traditional barbecue,” says Sutherland.

(4) The bar and the meats have something in common

The 43-foot indoor bar with 36 taps is a focal point of the restaurant. It also echoes the cooking process in a unique way.

In other words: It was custom-made out of hickory, which is the same wood Noble Smoke uses to smoke the meats.

(5) It’s all in the (delicious) details.

When you eat at Noble Smoke, there’s no doubt that the space feels cohesive and thoughtful. There are countless details that came together to transform the 10,797-square-foot former tractor-trailer garage.

• Open feel: High ceilings, large windows and open areas foster interaction between people.
• Yellow accents: The vibrant color was selected to enhance the open space and contrast with the industrial furniture.
• Outdoor space: The patio seats 200 and has 12 beer taps so guests can enjoy Carolina BBQ under Carolina blue skies.

Hungry for more? Check out VisionBuilders Design’s portfolio. If you’re a restaurateur, get in touch to see how they can bring your vision to life.

This content was produced in partnership with VisionBuilders Design.