FLINT, Michigan — The smell of sweet smoke hickory, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, pulled pork, brisket and polish dogs spills into the back of the Flint Farmers’ Market as the line grows deeper outside the Charlie’s Smokin’ BBQ. As the lunch rush picks up and the line begins filling the aisle, the counter becomes louder as orders are called up.
“1022! 1025, you’re up! 1026!” and customer after customer walks away as others join the line. Charlie Weston is there, working the line as he has done for the last 17 years — the last several here at the Farmers’ Market. Weston serves up a Kansas to St. Louis-style barbecue — “slightly sweet with a little heat to it.”
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Even with the growing lunch rush, surrounded by the fury of the line, the retired Flint Police officer moves with a calm purpose. There’s not really a rush to his timing, as much as it seems he knows what’s coming next.
“We started on a corner in the north end and maybe did a summer there,” Weston says. “Then a friend of mine told me to come down and talk to the people at the Farmers’ Market and the manager at the time said, ‘Yeah, come on down.’”
They set up shop outside five years ago, often just one day a week and their reputation for ribs that fall off the bone grew. “From that point, they could see we were developing a following and wanted to know if we wanted to come inside,” the Flint Northern grad who served for 30 years as a Flint police officer.
Barbecuing started, and remains, a “family thing,” for Weston.
“Like most, I started out young, with family, assisting my dad and my stepdad with just barbecuing for the family. It just grew from there, just something I’ve liked doing,” Weston says..
He’s father of five and grandfather of … “I don’t know. I’d have to think about it. I want to say 12, maybe, and four great grandchildren,” he says with a laugh. “They come and visit me here and make sure everything is running right.”
Weston spent many long hours in the kitchen helping his mother prepare dinner as a child and keeps building his business with the next generation, and the next, and the next, in mind. “I’m trying to develop something that will stand its ground even if I’m gone, its something the grandkids can be involved in and grow up in and move on from.”
Weston is the grill man and gets started in the morning, prepping the sides and his meats — but if you’re looking for details, like what makes that Charlie’s Smokin’ BBQ sauce so special, look elsewhere.
“Mmmhmm nah, I don’t think so, I keep that one close,” he laughs.
Leaning back and looking at a side wall of pictures and cards, Weston lets go of a deep breath. He’s seen a lot in this town over the years. He’s seen a lot of good. And, he’s seen a lot of bad.
“In the end, we have quite a few people that support us, but I’ve also had folks from Atlanta or Florida tell me I’d be doing a lot better if I was somewhere else,” Weston says. “But it’s home. It’s Flint. I don’t know wherever else; I know Flint.”
Things were good when Weston was growing up, attending Parkland Elementary, Emerson Junior High, and Northern High School at a time when General Motors jobs were plentiful. He sees a lot of good happening now, too.
“I believe there is going to be a growing surge here, and if I can be a part of that, then I will be right there. We’ll be apart of that,” he says.
Getting back to the line, Weston is greeted by his co-workers/family: “Where’s that chicken?” a voice chides lightley from the back. “It’s coming. It’s coming,” Weston says.
Charlie’s Smokin’ BBQ is located in the Flint Farmers’ Market, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
For more information, visit
Charlie’s Smokin’ BBQ Facebook page.
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