Driver Crashes Into B's Barbecue in Greenville
A driver struck the Greenville restaurant while turning from 5th Street, and city inspectors plan to help it reopen within days.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Barbecue
A Greenville woman lost control while turning from 5th Street onto B's Barbecue Road, overcorrected, and drove into the restaurant, which was damaged. She was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, and two people inside were checked out at the scene.
Why it matters
The crash damaged a long-running local restaurant that has operated since 1978, affecting its business and the neighborhood around it. Weather did not appear to play a role in the incident.
Two people inside the restaurant were checked out at the scene, and the driver was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. The restaurant has operated since 1978, but the full extent of the structural damage has not been detailed.
The players
B's Barbecue
A Greenville restaurant that began as a stand opened by Bill and Peggy McLawhorn in 1978 and was struck by the vehicle.
The details
The driver was turning from 5th Street onto B's Barbecue Road when she overcorrected and drove into the building. She was cited for failure to maintain lane and reckless driving, which are accusations and not convictions; reckless driving is a misdemeanor under North Carolina law.
Timeline
1978: Bill and Peggy McLawhorn opened B's Barbecue as a stand.
Within the next few days: City inspectors and staff plan to help the restaurant reopen.
Legacy Business
The damage lands on a family-founded barbecue spot that has served the area since 1978, the kind of long-running local restaurant that depends on a single building. Its planned reopening within days will determine how quickly that continuity resumes.
Diners who regularly visit B's Barbecue should check for updates on its reopening, since the damage has interrupted service. Residents near 5th Street may notice traffic and repair activity while the building is restored.
The takeaway
Restaurants housed in older buildings can be vulnerable to sudden damage from nearby traffic, so supporting local spots during closures helps them recover. Checking official updates before visiting can save a wasted trip.
What happens next
City inspectors and staff plan to help B's Barbecue reopen within the next few days.
Further reading
Explore more Barbecue coverage from around the region.
