× Expand Courtesy Grace Meat + Three Owner Rick Lewis, at the pick-up window he bought at Home Depot, framed out, and then painted.

On March 17, in a video posted across Grace Meat + Three’s social media accounts, owners Rick and Elisa Lewis said that even as the COVID-19 virus was devastating their business, they weren’t willing to give up.

“We believe that this is worth fighting for,” Elisa said, appearing on the brink of tears.

In the weeks since the video was posted, the Lewises and their team at Grace have lived those words every day, and now that hard work has paid off in the form of a second walk-up concept debuting on-site.

Today, the couple have announced plans to open Grace Backyard BBQ, a walk-up concept based out of the restaurant’s dining room that will operate apart from its Grace Chicken + Fish window. Located at 4270 Manchester Avenue, Grace Backyard BBQ will serve casual barbecue and cookout fare while observing the same food-safety practices and social distancing that has kept the first window running.

“Six weeks ago, our team quickly streamlined operations and focused on supporting each other and our community during this time of extreme adversity,” Rick Lewis said in a press release. “The community’s unwavering support has allowed us to keep our team employed and provide guests with much-needed respite of good food and hospitality.”

Photo by Spencer Pernikoff

The new venture will create new jobs at the restaurant, an element of the project that appealed to the couple, especially given how COVID-19 has crippled the restaurant industry. With an unused smoker serving as the initial inspiration for Grace Backyard BBQ, it’s no surprise to see items such as St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork, and smoked chicken on the menu. Main courses will be served with downhome sides, such as Tennessee pasta salad, pit beans, Mom’s Mustard Potato Salad, and more.

“The barbecue thing was basically like, this is an easy move; it’s something we’re familiar with and can do without having to build out a whole kitchen,” Rick says. “And the fact that we have one of the biggest Ole Hickory pits that they sell and we’re not using it right now [at the current walk-up window], and now we can load it up with chicken, pork steaks, ribs and more and get use out of it.”

× Expand Photo by Elisa Lewis Pulled pork with two sauces and house made pickles

The walk-up window will also serve as a market of sorts, selling packaged items such as chicken flour, the restaurant’s house seasoning, cornbread mix, and other kitchen staples, plus raw meats and prepared foods such as breakfast sausage, bacon, family-style sides, and take-and-bake meals.

Rick says the idea has been in motion for a few weeks as he and Elisa tried to imagine how the experience of dining out will continue to evolve during the pandemic and on the other side of it. “We have the space, and the thing is, we’ve been trying to stay ahead of the curve and how we pivot,” Rick says. “As we started talking a month ago now about what things will look like when we reopen, it just popped into my head that we should use our dining room and our smoker out back in case things look different in the future. What started out that way turned into, ‘Why can’t we launch it as a pop up now and add that revenue stream and help our employees and bring on a few more people?’”

With a new idea and menu in mind, the couple approached their landlord, Mangrove Properties, with the idea of altering their space and running the new concept out of it. Rick describes their landlord as a “rock star,” who was eager to help the couple open the new walk-up window as soon as possible.

“I went to Home Depot, grabbed a window that would fit and would maximize the space I had, my landlord installed it, and I painted it the next day,” Rick says with a laugh. “We’re basically setting it up as we would a table at an off-site event.”

The new concept may open as early as next week, Rick adds. As at Grace Chicken + Fish, guests can expect to find a sliding walk-up window at Grace Backyard BBQ where orders are placed (in person or online) and then served. Grace Backyard BBQ will be open Thursday through Sunday from 4–8 p.m. (or until sold out). To learn more, visit the walk-up window’s new website.

Meanwhile, at the flagship window, Grace Chicken + Fish, the Lewises are still going strong with a series of dishes and meal options. The couple is still committed to donating 15 percent of their Grace Gives Plates to furloughed bartenders, servers and cooks in the area as well as providing free meals daily through another special, Giving Grace, funded by public donations and available to anyone in need.

So far, the program has distributed more than 200 meals, and the Lewises are now working to partner with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and the St. Louis HERO Network to offer meals to children seeking treatment and their families, as well as first responders. They’re also working with The Link Market to provide hundreds of meals for local health-care employees.

In the weeks since the couple posted that emotional and moving video outlining the state of their business, they have not only kept their promise to keep fighting but they’ve also started to forge a new path to benefit themselves, their employees, and St. Louis. Now, the Lewises hope that patrons will support them.

“Get out here, and come eat some barbecue,” Rick laughs. “We’re excited about it; we’re excited to have another safe, curbside walk-up model. On the weekends, we’re going to do more backyard specials like pork steaks and bacon cheddar brats that we make in house. Come out, say hi, and and grab some food.”