"Darneille opened Smokecraft Modern Barbecue in 2020 - directly following the year in which his team won over 70 awards on the festival circuit. While he didn't know it then, the timing could not have been worse. Between finding the perfect spot in Clarendon, a neighborhood in northern Arlington County, and fitting it out with all of the telltale signs of a great BBQ restaurant for the grand opening, COVID-19 struck."
"For one, Smokecraft got nowhere close to its projected revenues, considering it had to work to attract employees and deal with social distancing rules from the word go. But that wasn't even the worst of it. Having only started operations four months into lockdown, Smokecraft didn't qualify for any of the government grants for struggling businesses. So, despite getting rave reviews Darneille was constantly stuck between finding his feet and swimming against the tide."
Andrew Darneille spent early years competing against top pitmasters and opened Smokecraft Modern Barbecue in Arlington in 2020 after winning over 70 festival awards. The restaurant opened during COVID-19 lockdowns, delaying revenue, complicating staffing, and missing eligibility for government relief. Smokecraft struggled with social distancing rules and mounting debt, reaching $1.4 million and filing for bankruptcy in 2024. Despite rave reviews, the business faced liquidation risk but pursued restructuring options. Leadership's persistence and prior competitive resilience formed the basis for a comeback that led the restaurant to its five-year anniversary in spring 2025.
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