By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The local family whose barbecue has made Calera’s Tin Top Bar-B-Que a favorite eatery in Shelby County will bring its made-from-scratch offerings to Columbiana in a few weeks.

Tin Top Bar-B-Que owner Mike Gannon, 48, and his 23-year-old son Chase Gannon will open Tin Top BBQ 2 on March 1 in the former Beverly’s Barbecue building on Old Highway 25 near downtown Columbiana.

“He (Chase) wanted to go into the restaurant business, and we decided to go for it,” Mike Gannon said, adding he and Chase will operate the Columbiana restaurant as partners. “Nothing better than being in business with your kids.”

Tin Top BBQ 2 will offer the same barbecue meat staples as the Calera location––pork, ribs, chicken and pig wings––and homemade sides, plus “a lot more.”

Barbecue salads, barbecue nachos, loaded potatoes, French fries, onion rings and lamb shanks will be on the menu, and possibly ribeyes on Friday and Saturday nights.

Another staple customers can expect in Columbiana is Tin Top’s original, homemade barbecue sauce.

“Nothing is pre-made in our restaurant,” Mike said. “It’s all made every morning.”

Tin Top BBQ 2 will provide dine-in, carryout and catering services.

Mike said he and his family loved Beverly’s Barbecue and its longtime owner, Beverly McKenna, who passed away at age 81 in February 2015.

McKenna operated the restaurant from 1972-2005 before she retired and sold it to another owner.

“She was our neighbor,” Mike said of McKenna. “We’re just glad we can keep that going. I believe it’s going to do very, very well.”

The restaurant will be open Monday through Saturday. A grand opening event with a live radio broadcast, discounts and gift certificate giveaways is planned for the second Saturday in March, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We’re excited,” Chase said. “We’re happy to come to Columbiana. It’s nice to be close to home.”