R.I.P., Theo's Southern Style Cuisine

I regret to inform that Theo's Southern Style Cuisine is no more.

In its day (in Johnson City right by the arch) Theo's was an awesome place for Southern BBQ. Great ribs and chicken and amazing sides like scalloped potatoes, candied yams, baked beans, fried okra, and sweet potato fries. And that goes without mentioning the two best items on their menu, the cornbread, which was most certainly the best I've ever had, and the WINGS(!!!) which were easily the biggest and perhaps the best I've ever had. Man, I could go for a dozen Sweet & Sassy wings and a Pork BBQ sandwich with sweet potato fries right about now...

In recent years, Theo's had scaled back due to having their business seized by the IRS which forced them to move out of the JC location. Still, people demanded more delicious BBQ, and the folks at Manley's Mart on Downs Ave. gave Theo's a chance in their small gas station/convenience store to get back up and running under the name Theo's Express. I believe Theo's was there for maybe a year or two, occupying under a slightly abbreviated menu. It was mostly the same quality food delivered by the same nice folks, and all was good with the world.

But I was driving by Manley's today and noticed that the Theo's signage had been taken down. I went in and talked to the employees at Manley's who said that Theo's had indeed moved out a short time ago, and they were preparing the spot for a deli that would be moving into the location next week. I inquired as to whether Theo's would be moving someplace else, to a new location, and they didn't think so.

Bummer.

Guess I'll have to try out the Mad Moose's BBQ sometime soon to see if Binghamton still has a good BBQ joint in its midst...but for now, I wish the Felton family good luck in their future ventures. Very nice family and I hope to see them re-emerge on the Binghamton food scene at some point soon.