With all the construction going on in downtown Mission, it would be easy to overlook a new building project that has begun.
A section of property (33321 1st Ave.) is being cleared and a retaining wall has been built in preparation for a new restaurant proposal.
Pitmasters Real Wood Pit BBQ is hoping to open its first ever location in Mission.
Mike Bruic, who has lived in Mission for the past three years is the man behind the proposal.
“This is not my first barbecue place, he told the Mission Record, but it is the first time he has owned the property.
Bruic used to lease a pizza and barbecue place in Maple Ridge.
“We started selling more barbecue than pizza so I decided to get out of the pizza business.”
Pitmasters is his new idea and he has trademarked the name in Canada, as well as the slogan “It ain’t legit without the wood pit.”
Barbecue is in Bruic’s blood.
“I’ve been barbecuing since I was a little kid,” he said.
He’s from the South Georgia, North Florida, Okefenokee Swamp area where barbecue is king and that’s how he wants to cook his food.
According to Bruic, many people boil meat, slather it with sauce, throw it on the grill for five minutes and call it barbecue.
“If you did that where I come from, they would tar and feather you and run you out of town.
He plans to have two wood pits in his new restaurant.
His development proposal will be heard at Mission council on Monday and if all goes well, he expects to have a building permit shortly after.
Bruic hopes to be open early in the new year.
