After a year without fans in the stands, San Diego Padres will reopen Petco Park to the public at limited capacity for the 2021 season, and fans will soon be able to get authentic, Texas-style barbecue from North Park-born Grand Ole BBQ.
Founded by San Diego native Andy Harris, a longtime pitmaster who learned his trade spending summers in Texas, Grand Ole BBQ y Asado opened its Central Texas-style barbecue hut in North Park in fall 2015. The original location is currently in the process of expanding to add more seating and a bar. In 2018, Grand Old BBQ expanded to a massive second location in Flinn Springs with the help of local hospitality development company Social Syndicate, known for such projects as Bootlegger, Wonderland, The Rabbit Hole, OB Surf Lodge, The Local Downtown & Pacific Beach and the second location of Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill.Grand Ole BBQ will open inside Petco Park around mid-April, taking over the former Phil's BBQ spot in in the main concourse Section 113 behind first base. Expect a menu of low-and-slow smoked meat sandwiches like brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey, and more, as well as sides like El Barracho loaded fries and their famous Frito pie boat.
Being San Diego County is in California's red tier of COVID-19 restrictions, Petco Park is permitted to host fans at live games at 20% capacity starting on Opening Day, Thursday, April 1. Initially, only some concessions will be available at the ballpark, and fans will be required to use mobile ordering through the Ballpark App at designated concessions for pickup. Once San Diego is moved to the orange tier, the capacity limit will rise to 33%, which could come in the next week or two, and would jump to 67% when the county moves into the least-restrictive yellow tier.
