Bobby Kokinda and Shannon Nault started their online retail meat company, OB Meat Co., out of their OB residence in mid-June 2019.
After a several-month search for their own kitchen space, they’ve found a new brick-and-mortar home at 4853 Newport Ave., which formerly housed the Village Kitchen for more than 30 years.
“Village Kitchen was there from about 1985-86 and the Lopez family owned and ran it,” said Kokinda, who noted the Lopez family retired and closed their retail space, which has been vacant for about eight months.
“It will be a good fit,” said Kokinda. “We will start to rebuild it in a couple of months once we get all the permits.”
Noting the site is already zoned for a restaurant, Kokinda would like to remodel and re-open quickly.
“I want to be open by June 15, but we’re saying June 27, just in time for the OB Street Fair,” he said. “There are a whole bunch of people waiting for us to begin operating.”
The eatery offers a menu of smoked ribs, bacon-wrapped chicken, brisket burnt ends, and tri-tip, as well as a variety of sides and sandwiches. There is also a retail section with homemade recipes, merchandise and a selection of house-made jerky in flavors like smoked OG, black pepper, three-pepper, hot stuff, kalbi and brisket rub.
For more information, visit obmeatco.com.