West 52 BBQ Ecstatic Being In Shorewood: 'Try It Before You Buy It, You Can't Lose': Troy Johnson

SHOREWOOD, IL — After closing his Country Blaze BBQ restaurant in Channahon and moving closer to Joliet and Plainfield more than two years ago, Troy Johnson has found his niche here in Shorewood. West 52 BBQ has injected life back into the little Park Place Plaza along Route 52 just east of Shorewood's Police Department.

For years, this was the original spot for Casa Maya Mexican Restaurant. Casa Maya then built a new restaurant in the Anderson's Crossing at Route 59 and Route 52. After Casa Maya left, a taco restaurant opened during the COVID pandemic, but it only lasted a few months.

By the fall of 2023, West 52 BBQ opened, and Troy Johnson is staying busy.

"My business has picked up about 83 percent. And I think that's because of the demographics," Johnson explained. "When I was in Morris and Channahon, it's all Caucasians. Here, there's Black, Hispanic, Indians from Naperville, people who follow BBQ restaurants.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic about being in Shorewood. I live eight minutes down the road and all my customers from Morris, Braidwood, Dwight and Wilmington still come and visit me."

As for the fact that there's handful BBQ restaurants in the Joliet, Plainfield and Romeoville region, "we are not in competition with one another. We're all artists, we just paint differently," Johnson reflected.

Johnson's West 52 BBQ daily menu does not change much. Wednesday's lunch-time chalkboard read: Rib Tips. Pulled Pork. Smoked Chicken. Fried Chicken Wings. Fried Chicken Tenders. Fried Chicken Sandwich. Catfish Nuggets. Shrimp. Johnson also makes charbroiled burgers, and his beef brisket is normally available for dinner.

My Job Is To Make People Happy: Troy Johnson Tells Patch

Johnson begins his work around 4:30 a.m. He said it takes about five hours to make the brisket and about 5 1/2 hours for the pulled pork.

Johnson has a dynamic engaging personality that his customers appreciate. Since opening in Shorewood in 2023, Johnson said that about 68 percent of his customer base are "the same people coming here."

"My job is to make people happy. I treat people right," Johnson remarked during Wednesday's lunch time interview. "Nobody will walk away saying they didn't get treated right. Most of my reviews say I'm a good dude.

"My prices stay reasonable. If I keep my prices down, people find it easier to eat with me versus grocery shopping."

As of Thursday night, West 52 BBQ had 189 Google Reviews, averaging an impressive 4.6 stars. The most recent reviews, all posted within the past month, gave West 52 BBQ a glowing 5 stars. Here's a sampling of their reviews:

"Went to West 52 BBQ and Troy has not lost his touch! My friend had the burger, I went with the chicken wings and ribs — everything was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The BBQ here is out of this world."

"1st time customer yesterday. Is today too soon to be a 2nd time customer!? I had the tips, Mac n cheese, and greens... every bite was dynamite! In addition to the 10/10 food experience, I also wanted to share how much i enjoyed the neighborhood vibe of the place. Troy came out and the whole place struck up a conversation about our love for music... especially blues."

"First time here, best pulled pork I’ve eaten. The owner Troy is absolutely wonderful, and you can tell he takes pride in his food, hospitality and customers. My husband and I are definitely coming back and bringing our family there when they visit! If you haven’t been, you need to go!"

If You Have No Personality, Most Likely You Won't Have Much Business

Thanks to his West 52 BBQ, Johnson keeps the traffic flowing in and out of his plaza's parking lot five days a week. Johnson offers both dine-in and take out. He does not do deliveries. About 85 percent of his customers are take-out orders and the other 15 percent are dine-in.

"I talk to a lot of people. A lot of people know who I am. I got jokes. The jokes are free, but for the food, you've got to pay," Johnson smiled.

Johnson said the restaurant business is personality-driven.

"If you have no personality, most likely you won't have much business," he explained.

Even back to his days in Channahon of running Country Blaze BBQ, Johnson is known for his long-standing motto of "Try It Before You Buy It."

During Wednesday's interview, Johnson was manning the register, taking orders over the phone and running back to his kitchen to prepare the food. He was often hustling back to the front counter from his kitchen, bringing food samples for a half dozen different customers to taste.

"Try it before you buy it," Johnson repeated.

After taking one woman's takeout order over the phone, Johnson told Joliet Patch, "I put peoples' names in the phone. This lady likes collard greens and catfish nuggets, but her real thing is fried green tomatoes."

And even though the woman did not order any fried green tomatoes Wednesday, Johnson created an appetizer and put the fried green tomatoes into her carryout container at no extra cost.

Come When You Feel Comfortable

West 52 BBQ stays open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. He's closed Monday and Tuesday.

Johnson just handled a giant catering order from the new Hollywood Casino Joliet to feed 400 people: 200 pulled pork sandwiches and 200 brisket sandwiches.

"I do a lot of catering all year long," Johnson proclaimed. "Catering will keep you alive when you have down times, you know."

On Fridays and Saturdays, Johnson expands his menu offerings. He's been serving smoked turkey wings the past four or five months. And when some customers ask whether he sells turkey tips, he tells them, "I don't false advertise. There's no such thing as turkey tips. Turkeys don't have tips," Johnson insisted.

Johnson urges people who have never set foot into West 52 BBQ to give him a try this fall or winter.

"Come when you feel comfortable. Don't be apprehensive. Don't be afraid. Just remember, try it before you buy it, you can't lose," he proclaimed.

The address of West 52 BBQ is 805 West Jefferson Street, Unit GH in Shorewood, about a mile up the road from Route 59.

His phone number for carryout is 779-702-9004. His Facebook page is WEST52BBQ