History Of Red Bridges BBQ
Welcome to Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, where three generations of the Bridges family have dedicated themselves to serving the best pit-cooked barbecue in Cleveland County.
It all began in 1946 when Red and Lyttle Bridges opened Dedmond's Barbecue, which later became Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge in 1949. Over the years, our beloved restaurant has seen the passing of Red and Lyttle, who tirelessly worked to build this legacy.
Their daughter, Debbie, carried the torch for decades before passing it on to her children. Debbie worked 12 hour days for years just like her mother did. Teaching her children to do the same thing. Today Natalie and Chase continue the tradition of slow-cooking pork over hickory for that authentic, old-fashioned flavor that has made us a local favorite for over 80 years.
Come and join us as we embark on a lifetime of serving delicious BBQ to our cherished customers.
Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge began in 1946, when Red Bridges and his wife, Lyttle, opened a small restaurant called Dedmond’s Barbecue in Shelby, North Carolina. Red had served as a cook during World War II, and when he came home, he knew cooking barbecue was what he wanted to do. In 1949, the restaurant became Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, and in 1953, it moved to the location we still call home today.
Red and Lyttle built the Lodge through hard work and a belief in doing things the right way. Pork shoulders cooked slowly through the night over hickory and oak wood, giving the barbecue the flavor people came back for. The family’s recipes—including Red’s tangy, vinegar-based sauce—became part of the tradition.
When Red passed away in 1966, Lyttle, affectionately known as “Mama B,” kept the Lodge going. Their daughter Debbie “Yaya” Webb followed in her footsteps, working long days and teaching her children the same dedication she learned from her parents.
Today, Debbie’s children, Natalie Ramsey and Chase Webb, run the Lodge together as the third generation. We’re proud to carry on what Red, Mama B, and Debbie built: pit-cooked barbecue, family recipes, and a place where generations of customers have gathered around the table. Eighty years after those first days at Dedmond’s Barbecue, we’re still grateful every time someone comes through our doors.