4 Rivers Smokehouse

About the Business

Specialties

4 Rivers Smokehouse Coral Springs is located at The Walk at University, on the eastern edge of the Florida Everglades. It's also just a short 11-mile drive from the beach. 4 Rivers Coral Springs was the 13th 4 Rivers location and the first in South Florida. Visit 2660 North University Dr. Coral Springs, FL. 33065 for the best BBQ South FL has to offer. 4 Rivers--Named "The Best BBQ in Florida" and one of "The South's Best BBQ Joints" by Food & Wine and Southern Living--has opened numerous locations but still remains the same family-owned business specializing in slow-smoked barbecue, homestyle sides, and fresh bakery items. 4 Rivers Smokehouse ships nationwide on Goldbelly.

History

Established in 2009.

4 Rivers Smokehouse began with the launch of the "Barbecue Ministry" in 2004, when John hosted a cookout fundraiser to support a local family whose young daughter was battling cancer. This one event resulted in a passion for supporting local schools, churches, and charitable organizations, and a few years later, smoking thousands of pounds of meat out of a garage just wouldn't cut it anymore. After trials, tribulations, and a whole lot of burnt ends, we finally flipped that "Hot Brisket Now" sign on in October of 2009. Within the first hour, a line had formed out the door...and then around the corner. Today, we have several locations across the state of Florida, with plans for continued expansion and more than 1,000 amazing folks on our 4 Rivers team. Most importantly, the Barbecue Ministry remains our foundation and focus, and will until the cows come home.

Meet the Business Owner

Business owner information

John R.

Business Owner

Retiring as president of a $1.5 billion dollar company, John Rivers left a career of twenty years in Healthcare to follow a lifelong dream of owning a restaurant. In 2009 Rivers opened his first concept, 4 Rivers Smokehouse, which quickly became one of the fastest growing restaurants in the southeast. With thirteen locations in Florida and one soon to open in Atlanta, the success and popularity of his 4 Rivers Smokehouse and his second concept, the Southern-inspired COOP, have garnered national recognition. Nation's Restaurant News, the industry's lead trade publication, recognized 4 Rivers as one of their top five breakout brands.  Restaurant Business named Rivers as one of the Power 20 Leaders in the restaurant industry, Orlando Magazine included him among Orlando's "50 Most Powerful, 15 to Watch" and in 2013, Rivers was named a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.