FLINT, Mich. — When the COVID-19 shutdowns drained downtown foot traffic, Blackstone’s Smokehouse owner Jerrid Heidel poured his own money into the business year after year to keep the doors open. Six years later, he’s still betting on downtown Flint.
“My goal is that guests walk away thinking that was worth my time and hard-earned money,” Heidel said.
Originally opened in April 2009 during the first wave of downtown Flint’s revitalization, Blackstone’s changed hands several times before Heidel took over in 2019. A longtime restaurant operator and former Famous Dave’s franchisee in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and New York, Heidel was ready to return home and scale back on years of constant travel.
“We do elevated barbecue,” Heidel said. “We give barbecue the kind of credit that I think it deserves.”
Blackstone’s recently won My City Choice Awards across six categories, including best wings and best barbecue. Heidel credits this recognition to his 21-member staff.
“My proudest moments are when other people recognize what we’re doing,” he said. “And that’s not because I have a magic wand … It’s really good people working hard to create a good experience.”
“I’m big on identity,” Heidel said. “When I got here, it kind of had lost its way. Originally, it was an Irish pub, then a bar and grill, then a bar diner. I was determined to give this thing a true identity.”
He kept the “Blackstone’s” name for its historical ties, remembering it as a clothing store in his youth, and added “Smokehouse” to reflect its new direction. Being one of the few establishments that holds its original signage, Heidel wanted to honor that heritage.
“I kind of fell in love with barbecue during my journey with Famous Dave’s, and then I started doing competitions independently, making my own sauce,” Heidel said. “The art of barbecue really appeals to me … and so Blackstone Smokehouse was born.”
While barbecue is at the heart of the menu, Heidel was intentional about not limiting customers’ options. The menu shifts about three times a year and includes popular items like his signature blackberry barbecue sauce, which was developed during barbeque competition testing, and a mac and cheese that he says is a customer favorite. Salads, sandwiches, soups and other alternatives round out the offerings.
“We’re barbecue-centric, but we are not barbecue-only,” Heidel said. “I’ve tried to put together a menu that can appeal on a daily basis.”
Blackstone’s seeks to give diners more than a meal—Heidel wants to give them an experience.
“You end up with a good experience because our staff is awesome,” he said. “They love what they’re doing, and that plays out into your experience at the table.”
“I think maybe that’s why you get passion out of us,” Heidel added.
Beyond the social element of dining, Heidel treats food as “entertainment for your mouth.” He is intentional about texture, flavor pairings and pushing culinary boundaries. Balancing sweet with tart, or soft with crunchy, all contributes to the experience he envisions for every guest.
While there are no major expansions planned, Heidel is focused on steady growth through catering, menu innovation, and small improvements like a refreshed back entrance and a new mural — along with community-oriented events such as “Beers and Bites” every six to eight weeks, themed nights and occasional live music.
“I hope we’re rocking strong and financially stable,” he said of the next six years. “I hope we can be part of the next revitalization and the next change in downtown’s perception.”
Blackstone’s Smokehouse, located in downtown Flint at 531 S. Saginaw St., is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday.