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Popular BBQ joint runs out of brisket amid meat shortage

By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com
By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com

CONNELLY SPRINGS, N.C. — The shortage of meat is extending beyond grocery stores to some of North Carolina’s BBQ joints.

JD’s Smokehouse in Connelly Springs posted on Facebook that they cannot serve their famous brisket because they don’t have any.

ALSO READ: Many local grocery stores limiting how much meat you can buy

Each day more than a thousand people show up to JD’s to pickup lunch and dinner, but they won’t be getting anymore brisket for now.

“The brisket man it’s gonna be missed because it’s one of the best around,” customer Steve Graves said.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty could see the line of cars outside the restaurant during Thursday’s lunch rush.

We love brisket, yes we do. But due to Corona we don’t have any for you...😬😕 Due to the circumstances and shortage of...

Posted by JD's Smokehouse on Tuesday, May 12, 2020

One of their more popular meals is brisket, but owner Matt Goare said prices for the meat has doubled and he can’t find any suppliers.

He said his prices for meat went up from $4.15 a pound to more than $8 a pound over the last several weeks. His famous brisket makes up about 30% of his orders.

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“So the challenge is kind of the middle man. We have plenty of people who want to eat and we would love to serve them, but acquiring the product is the biggest problem,”Goare said.

Meat prices have steadily climbed with COVID-19 outbreaks at meat processing plants nationwide. In North Carolina, there are more than 1,600 positive virus cases at 26 processing plants.

JD’s is still serving barbecue pork and chicken but are down to their last 50 plates of brisket.

Some people showed up early to get one of the last plates.

“We’re sad that the supplies are so short that they’re going to run out but we’re gonna get our brisket hopefully,” customer Lynn Algier said.

Goare told Channel 9 that it may be weeks before he’s able to get more brisket.

>> We’ll bring you LIVE updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Get extended coverage on the free WSOC Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.

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