Pigskin All Sports BBQ was honored with a ribbon cutting last week in recognition of the new restaurant’s opening. Owners Nikki Echols and Mandi George along with members of the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce are shown above. | Randy Garrison

When BBQ is in your blood what do you do? You open a new BBQ restaurant. Sisters Nikki Echols and Mandi George have been around BBQ for most of their adult lives. They have now opened a new restaurant, Pigskin All Sports BBQ.

Nikki has been working around BBQ since she was 12-years-old.With a family history of BBQ, you could say sauce probably flows through their veins.

The restaurant opened in December of 2015 at the corner of Nanceford Road and Highway 31 South, right beside Sparkman Civic Center.With the help of their mother, Patricia Hampton and family friend, Wendell Wright, along with others enabled the restaurant to open. Mandi expressed her gratitude for all of the help they received.

The new restaurant will specialize in pork, chicken, turkey and ribs. A couple of new items they have added include pork wraps and melts. For the little ones, a kids meal, “3 Little Pigs” is also on the menu. The restaurant will also offer catering for small groups up to large entertainment venues. A Hartselle favorite for cold weather is also on the menu, Brunswick stew. It is available by the pint, quart, half or whole gallon.

Both Echols and George remarked that the crew at Pigskin is considered family. Well several members are family Nikki and Mandi’s mom, Patricia is at the restarant many days and evenings. Both Mandi and Nikki’s daugters work at the restraurant as well as a niece.

All are working together to make sure the restaurant is a success. In fact, during last week’s ribbon cutting there were tears of joy seen in several of the employees at the restaurant. They are excited about the new opportunity and happy to be working together. They also wanted to thank their families for the support during the opening of this new venture.

During the ribbon cutting, Echols thanked the members of the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Hartselle for the support they have been shown during the opening of the new business.

Well known BBQ cook, Jackie Burgess, with his 30 years of experience, along with his daughter, Wendy Buckelew, with 15 years experience in BBQ, will be out back handling all of the cooking of the meat. Inside the restaurant features seating for those who want to dine inside and a convenient drive thru for those who want to pick up a meal without leaving their vehicle.

All of the folks at Pigskin invite you to stop by and enjoy some great food and friendly, hometown service. They will treat you like family.