SUFFOLK, Virginia — It wasn’t the call Redwood Smoke Shack pitmaster Bob Roberts was expecting on a Friday night, but one that led Robert to his new location in Suffolk late at night.

According to Suffolk police, the 18-year-old driver of a white pickup truck drove into the side of the rear building of the cabin at 3885 Bridge Road.

The Suffolk Fire Service was also on site and secured the building after the vehicle was recovered. No one was injured in the accident and the cause of the accident is still under investigation.

On Monday, Roberts spoke to the Suffolk News-Herald about the incident.

“I was sleeping and I was woken up by someone telling me I should probably come up because a truck had gone through the building,” Roberts said. “So I got on the property and there were, you know, half a dozen police cars and fire trucks and everything, and then there was an F-150 sticking half out the side of the back building 3885 on the property.”

While repair plans are being worked on, Roberts does not believe the accident should delay the grand opening, which is currently scheduled for the fall.

“It’s a very different building, so I’m not really anticipating any delays. My contractors need some of the materials that were stored in the garage bay under all the cinder blocks and brick siding. So I’m waiting for their insurance company’s adjuster to come by and take a look at it so we can then start removing all of that debris and construction waste to figure out if the material is still salvageable or if I need to get more,” Roberts said. “The materials I’m more concerned about now are these reclaimed barn boards that I bought for the entire inside of the building to give it the look and feel that we’re going for at Redwood, and I can’t even see the wood pile because it’s under all of those blocks. So I’m crossing my fingers that there’s not a lot of damage to that.”
Roberts also described an old fire truck in the bay that was “displaced two inches” by the impact and will also need to be examined. He also explained that he and the Redwood Smoke Shack team are targeting a Saturday, November 9th, grand opening date at their 3881 Bridge Rd. location.

“From now on, we’re moving toward that day. You know, we can’t stop, we’re not going to stop, man. We’re just moving forward, right? A little bump in the road isn’t going to stop me,” Roberts said enthusiastically.

Roberts also addressed the people of Suffolk who were eagerly awaiting the opening, thanking everyone for their support and checking that they were OK.

“…we are very grateful to the people of Suffolk and all the passersby for the support we have received so far. And you know, we are just excited to open and fill the air with smoke and serve Suffolk and all the passersby our wonderful Texas-inspired barbecue,” he said.