After a year of serving up barbecue, brisket and other slow-cooked flavors from its food truck, Coastal Beach BBQ put down roots with a storefront in Virginia Beach near Lynnhaven Mall.
The restaurant, located at 455 S. Lynnhaven Road, opened in August at the former site of A Taste of Texas.
Co-owner Corey Lott said his barbecue journey started in culinary school when one of his instructors introduced him to smoking meats. Lott’s interest was piqued after taking part in a demonstration at an event.
Shortly after finishing school, he bought his first smoker and went to work at a variety of restaurants during his restaurant career.
“I eventually lost my passion for cooking until one day I decided I wanted to make and bottle a barbecue sauce and start a barbecue catering company,” Lott said. “My wife told me to sleep on it, and I woke up the next morning with the name Coastal Beach BBQ.”
Soon after, Lott found a food truck for sale, and his wife reluctantly let him buy it. The couple operated the food truck for close to a year before finding a brick-and-mortar store.
Coastal Beach BBQ co-owners Corey Lott, left, and Whitney Dockery. (Lee Belote/For Inside Business)
“This space seems to be the perfect space for us to grow into even though we didn’t feel like we were quite ready for it,” Lott said. “After a lot of consideration, prayer and support from my business partner, Whitney Dockery, and my wife, Tamie, we decided to take the leap. It seemed like the right move.”
Lott said his business has grown through local events, brewery partnerships, catering and support from a growing customer base.
“Opening a permanent restaurant is a huge milestone for us and represents the next chapter of the business,” he said.
Coastal Beach BBQ co-owner Corey Lott’s start into his venture was wanting to make and bottle a barbecue sauce. (Lee Belote/For Inside Business)
Coastal Beach BBQ specializes in smoked barbecue including brisket, pulled pork, ribs, wings, house-made sides and sauces. The restaurant features a variety of barbecue styles. The pulled pork is Carolina style with a vinegar sauce; the chicken and ribs are a Kansas style with a sweet sauce; and the brisket is Texas style.
One of the most popular menu items is the brisket grilled cheese on garlic Texas toast. Other entrees include pulled pork and brisket platters, a barbecue chicken combo and a Cow Boy burger that’s topped with an onion ring, pulled pork, cheese and barbecue sauce.
In 2025, Coastal Beach BBQ won first place in Norfolk’s Smokin’ Up the Lot competition in the category for ribs and turkey. The regional contest, held for amateur and backyard pitmasters, showcases their smoked meats. The business will continue to do events and pop-ups and plans to add an event space in their store, too.
“Our story is really about building a small local food business from the ground up, navigating the challenges that come with that growth, and continuing to stay connected to the Virginia Beach community that helped us get here,” Lott said.
Coastal Beach BBQ put down roots with a storefront in Virginia Beach near Lynnhaven Mall after operating nearly a year as a food truck. (Lee Belote/For Inside Business)
Details: coastalbeachbbq.com
Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net
Dining and Cooking