I’m the chef and owner of Farm Boy BBQ, located just off Route 29. Our menu is crafted with careful thought, offering a delicious array of low & slow smoked meats and freshly made sides and desserts. Each dish we serve reflects the richness of Southern cuisine, delivering an authentic and delicious experience that will have you coming back for more.
And YES, it’s us! Farm Boy BBQ had been located outside of the Sunoco station in Malvern… if you loved us then you’ll love us even more now!
Alongside our neighbors—Avola, Wawa, and several other locally owned businesses—we’ve been navigating the significant challenges caused by ongoing Route 29 construction. Unfortunately, this has had a serious impact on our ability to do business.
If you’ve sat in the traffic at rush hour times, then you’ll understand. Many of our potential customers are simply avoiding Route 29 for other routes due to the longer travel times.
While we understand the importance of maintaining public infrastructure, the prolonged and repeated nature of this project has come at a steep cost for small businesses like ours.
The first lane closure came in December 2023, just two months after we opened. We did our best to weather the disruption, only to be hit again a few months later with another extended lane closure. Since March, Route 29 has had another lane closure again, and we’ve been told it will remain closed until the fall— a huge blow to our business and other businesses along the 29.
Our sales have dropped by nearly 50 percent. We’ve had to reduce staff hours and have lost team members who couldn’t afford the instability. Wawa has reported a 40 percent decline in sales, and Avola and other nearby businesses are experiencing similar difficulties.
We’re not asking for special treatment—we’re asking the community to rally around us – and our neighbors – to ensure to that our business, and our neighbor’s businesses, stay in business.
Your support matters now more than ever. Choosing to stop in for lunch or dinner, grab takeout, cater your party, or simply spreading the word to friends and neighbors can make all the difference. These small acts of support help keep our doors open, our employees working, and our local economy strong.
Please don’t let this be another instance of seeing one of your local restaurants close and saying to yourself, “I wish I knew!” because right now, I’m telling you that we need you. Our businesses are doing everything we can to hang on. But we can’t do it alone.
Paul Marshall
Chef/Owner, Farm Boy BBQ
