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pineappleexpressbarbecue

@pineappleexpressbarbecue

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BBQ / Beer Garden / Music
We had a good run (2021-2026)😢

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After months of sitting vacant, the former Pineapple Express space at Lackawanna Plaza has a new tenant.

Lackawanna owner Dave Placek confirmed to The Montclair Pod that Industry Tavern @industrytavernnj will be taking over the space, with plans to open soon.

Pineapple Express closed earlier this year.

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Some dinners stay with you long after the last plate is cleared.

Sunday's reunion dinner with Chef Damon Wise was one of those evenings.

To Damon -- thank you for joining us in the backyard where Sam's Table first began, for sharing your talent, your friendship and your generosity with our team and our guests.

To everyone who joined us, thank you for making the evening so memorable.

And to our incredible team, thank you for the care you bring to every service.

These are the nights that remind us why we love what we do.

📷Photos by @ost.visuals

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Before there was a restaurant, there was a backyard.

During shutdown, that's where Sam's Table began. With a handful of tables, neighbors who became regulars, and unforgettable evenings shared outdoors.

This Sunday, we're returning to where it started for one night only.

Chef Sam and Chef Damon Wise -- mentor, friend and former owner of Pineapple Express and Oso Felipe -- have created a six-course tasting menu celebrating the place where this journey began. The menu is here and we couldn't be more excited to share it with you.

Join us in the backyard one more time.

Sunday, July 26 | 5:30 pm

Reservations through the link in bio

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@pigbeachqueens this weekend for #chefjeff

The bbq family shows up and shows out ! One of my favorite events of the year. Chef Jeff was one of the good guys and the work the foundation created in his loss continues his legacy. @mattabdoo @imakedinner @rshawger @minus_won have built a behemoth in Queens ! Perez , Santiago , and Paul keep the place running and I can’t wait to see the team ! The biggest names in bbq will be there ! Condolences to the Lilly and mcClemore families with the loss of Patriach , Don McLemore of Big Bob Gibsons, you guys will be missed.

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NEW EPISODE DROP 🎙️🦪

This week on Behind the Counter with the Food Czar, I sit down with Matthew Chappina — the creative force behind Perla Oyster Bar in Maplewood, NJ.

This one is all about reinvention, resilience, and listening to that pull you just can’t ignore.

Matt didn’t start in the kitchen… he started in theater. But life had other plans. After working his way through restaurants in Brooklyn and NYC, he launched a sandwich concept that was gaining serious momentum — until COVID hit.

Burnt out and ready to walk away… he chose a different path.

That decision led to a pandemic pop-up oyster bar — and just like that, everything clicked again. In 2023, he took the leap and opened Perla… a space that truly reflects his journey and creative vision.

We talk burnout, pivots, betting on yourself… and how sometimes the right idea finds you when you’re finally ready to listen.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours 📺 Full video on YouTube 🔗 Link in bio

This episode is sponsored by @tonyboysnj & @esthetikamedspa

Special shoutouts to: @calexiconyc @porta_rossa_nj @buckysnjpizza @pineapplexpressbarbecue @damonwise1 @corner_slice @wheelhousecheeseandmore @arties_nj @lumscellars @sundaymotorco @sweetameliaoysters

#BehindTheCounter #FoodCzar #NJFoodScene #RestaurantStories #PodcastDrop

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Soul Music Isn't Dead. Let's Make Something Happen!! 📧

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Earlier this week, @damonwise1 was featured in the @nytimes to talk about the decline in alcohol sales and its impact on restaurants. It’s a tough topic to touch on when you’re a restaurateur: you want people to drink (indeed, the business model depends on it) BUT you also want to give people what they want. Restaurant owners know that this business is always in flux and is at the mercy of so many factors - and it seems like these shifts in drinking are here to stay, at least for now, in our corner of the world.

Thank you to @meghanmccarron for the coverage and excellent research and data; and to @edkashi for the photo.

In case you were wondering, Damon’s favorite NA drink @osofelipe.nj (because he, too, doesn’t imbibe) is our Gnargarita 🍋‍🟩 you’d swear it has tequila in it

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We are still so sad about @pineappleexpressbarbecue’s closure but in the aftermath, we’ve decided to host our friends @taylormadebandnj right here on our second floor. You may remember all the live performances Richie Cecere’s hosted here 💃🏼so we think it’s the perfect spot for a family friendly live show full of your favorite Taylor bops, plus Taylor tats and crafts from our friends @mobilemakers.us 💕 stop by 1-3pm on Valentine’s Day, all ages welcome, no cover, and the blue raspberry / strawberry lemonade slushies (N/A for the kids obv) will be flowing 🍹

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Join us this Saturday, January 31st, as we come together to thank @pineappleexpressbarbecue for so many years of incredible service to our community.
We’ll be playing music from 4–6pm, so bring your friends and show up in force. Let’s celebrate our shared love of great BBQ, great music, and being together.

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@pineappleexpressbarbecue we’re sad to see you go. Thank you for always letting the greater Montclair area come enjoy your BBQ and beer while our kids ran around like crazy. Everyone please check in on your favorite restaurants in town!

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In Case You Didn't Know @pineappleexpressbarbecue announced this morning they're closing their doors. Which unfortunately means our @dude.of.life show this Friday is CANCELED 😢 We're Sorry. We were really looking forward to playing 🎸

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Pineapple Express Barbecue in Montclair’s Lackawanna Plaza has closed.

Chef Damon Wise cited rising costs and a tough year for restaurants in a candid Instagram post today.

News of the closure caught many by surprise, including Lackawanna Plaza owner Dave Placek. The restaurant had been a popular community hub.

🔗 Click the link for full details, including Wise’s message and reactions from the community.

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