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Black Market StP Smokes Up Great BBQ & Heats Up the Neighborhood

By David Roth

This is the story of a friendship that sparked something wonderful. James Mann and Robert Lorch-Benysek formed a connection that lasts to this day, most ostensibly on Friday evenings from 5 pm to 7 pm on Isabel Street, located on the west side of Saint Paul.

James Mann and Robert Lorch-Benysek
James Mann and Robert Lorch-Benysek

That's where you'll find Black Market StP. They serve amazing food for two hours each week. Spend your Friday evening near this beautiful silver smoker trailer and you start feeling the camaraderie. You're standing on the street, chatting with good people, while the brisket has been smoking for 24 hours straight. All the carnivores' mouths are watering, and the vibe hovers at defcon 1.

The sun is setting on Isabel Street.
The sun is setting on Isabel Street.

Come for the food, stay for the fellowship. The menu is beyond simple:

Baby Back Ribs, Beef Brisket, Beef Short Ribs, Pork Shoulder, and Smoked Beans. Be sure to put your order in by Thursday, or they might run out. Black Market StP will also cater your party or event; after all, that silver smoker can feed thousands of people in one sitting. Good people, good food.


Special Thanks: Westley Johnson
Minnesota Music: Crankshaft, When We Land
Production Team: Brennan Vance, Johnny Hagen, Joe Demko, Skip Davis


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This story is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

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