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The Oink Joint will join Rocksalt Milk Bar and Old Town Provisions as a new business opening in the Hillside community in late November.

The Oink Joint is a competition style barbecue-turned-restaurant that offers a unique twist on traditional BBQ.

According to the restaurant’s website, Matt Crawford, owner of The Oink Joint, opened his first location in Newnan with five and a half years of barbecue experience.

Five years later, Crawford got the opportunity to acquire the original Oink Joint located in Zebulon.

On May 10, the location in Zebulon caught on fire, pausing the progress to come to LaGrange. 

“We had to put it on hold for a minute just to see how things were going to shake out with Zebulon,” Crawford said.

The Oink Joint specializes in hickory-smoked meats, homemade sides, specialty menu items, and barbecue inspired fusion, like their popular barbecue nachos and tacos.

“I’ve always liked LaGrange,” Crawford said.

“Growing up, I used to come down there and spend the night with my cousin and stuff like that. Just like Newnan, it’s got the same kind of hometown that will support local people, which is really our drive.”

Crawford said he wanted to be a part of a community that supports one another and felt like there was a need for a new barbecue restaurant in Troup County.

“It seemed like a good area to bring in some barbecue like we did in Newnan,” Crawford said.

“I like being part of like a revitalized (Hillside) area with a brewery, a bakery and ice cream right there. It just seemed like a really good fit for what everybodys trying to do.”

According to Crawford, he is looking the most forward to being a part of the community and bring more jobs to the town.

“I feel like this move to LaGrange will give us the opportunity to be visible in the community and do a lot within it,” Crawford said.

“We look forward to being able to reach out and help wherever we can, to be part of things, whether it’s an event or being able to donate or provide jobs. It’s a big part of what we look forward to being at able to do once in LaGrange.”