Derrek Vaughn | The Valdosta Daily TimesHoly Smoke BarBQue is located at 2905 N. Ashley St. in Valdosta.

VALDOSTA — Jamie and Sarah Parks are no newcomers to Valdosta or the barbecue business.

The Parks have run Action Printing in Valdosta for decades and catered homemade barbecue to businesses and big events for years. Now, they add Holy Smoke BarBQue to the list.

Holy Smoke is a full-scale restaurant and bar at the corner of North Ashley Street and Connell Road. The Parks have worked since January to renovate the former Mongo restaurant, tearing down walls, adding seating and putting up a porch and bar.

The Parks left the restaurant’s iconic column in place from the building’s days as Mongo and before that, as Captain T’s. However, the column, which was once a lighthouse, is now a chimney.

Holy Smoke BarBQue menu features the same barbecue the Parks have catered as well as hamburgers, steaks, seafood, salads and other items, including nightly specials and a full bar, she said.

The restaurant will serve only homemade food made from fresh, local ingredients, Sarah said. They will not use canned or frozen.

“Our milk comes from a jersey cow, no hormones, and it comes from Moultrie so it’s local, too,” she said. “Fresh oysters on the shell. Gulf oysters, there’s a difference.”

Sarah also emphasized the importance of original recipes at the restaurant. Holy Smoke includes both original food recipes as well as drink recipes.

The bar includes beer, liquor, wine, homemade sangria and mixed drinks, including three or four domestic beers and six to eight craft beers on tap. Jamie said the bar will also include craft bourbons.

Holy Smoke will feature nightly live music. The restaurant has already booked live music from the end of June through the end of August, Jamie said.

“It’s going to be a different show every night. We’re going to have special items every night. You’ve got to have variety every night to keep people coming back,” Sarah said.

She said they looked around Florida and other parts of Georgia but liked the Valdosta atmosphere and chose the restaurant location because of the frequent traffic.

The Parks are currently working on a delivery service and menu for Holy Smoke, she said. The delivery service will be available in two to three weeks and will include online ordering.

Holy Smoke also offers a 10 percent discount to military, first responders, senior citizens and anyone who works at a hospital by simply showing their badge.

The restaurant includes 270 seats but is first-come, first-serve; no reservations, Sarah said.

Holy Smoke BarBQue is located at 2905 N. Ashley St., and is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m., seven days a week. The restaurant can be reached by phone (229) 588-4755.