Swine BBQ opens on square

MEDINA — Say what you want about the newest barbecue joint in town, but it has a catchy name. Swine BBQ, which opened Wednesday at 117 Public Square, specializes in pork products, even though it sells turkey and brisket. Owner Brian Hilberg came up with the name for the Texas barbecue restaurant that formerly housed Marie's Cafe for 16 years before closing last December. Three months later, Hilberg's new creation is open for business. "Even though we have some non-pork products, think barbecue, mostly pork," he said. Hilberg, a former city councilman and current member of the Medina Board of Education, said his favorite dish is brisket ($9.25) with a side of smoke cabbage ($2.50.) "I'm very excited (to be open)," he said. "I started to run out of money. I had to get open to bring in some money. Staffing issues held us up (from opening earlier)." Hilberg said he has eight employees, some part time and full time. Eventually, he wants a staff of 18 to 20. He's opened with limited hours right now from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Soon, he'll offer evening hours for dinner and a Sunday brunch. He admits staffing has been difficult. Some potential staffers have been drawing large weekly unemployment checks and would rather stay home than work, he said. Hilberg said he's been smoking meats at home for years, so he had a good head start on the new business. He said he smokes his meats daily in his custom wood burning pit smoker. Meat is never reheated. He said the 18-pound brisket, for instance, can take up to 16 hours to cook. Picnic tables are close to going in behind the establishment in the "Pig Pen." Hilberg hopes to have a smoke ribeye night once a month and possibly smoked seafood and shrimp boil nights. "If it's popular, who knows?" he said. Alcohol is coming soon. He enlisted the help of Rep. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, to get his liquor permit. "She went to bat for us," Hilberg said. "She lit a fire under somebody." Swine BBQ also sells some T-shirts, "I like pig butts, and I cannot lie." For more information, visit http://swinebbq.net/ Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.