COLUMBUS — The 2024 Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest kicks off along the Scioto Mile downtown riverfront Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • There are expected to be 39 food vendors at the Jazz & Rib Fest 

  • After Hours BBQ was started by two construction workers who grilled out together after work 

  • They are known for their sweet rub and consistency 

 A lot goes into the preparation for the food vendors.

“Each one of these smokers can fit up to 130 slabs of ribs,” said Gregg Clark with After Hours Barbecue.

After Hours Barbecue in Orrville was started by Gregg Clark and Al Schroer, two construction workers and great friends, who often grilled out together after work. 

“My dad and I did a lot of hog roasts, and had some smokers that we had built. And Al borrowed it and bought his own, and we decided, hey we should get in a rib fest,” Clark said.

They had their first official hog roast in 2013.

“With a card table and a homemade smoker and roaster pans and borrowed a cooler from the local dairy and didn’t have enough ribs for everybody,” Clark said.

But the friends took that as a challenge to keep growing, and they’re now preparing four commercial tournament smokers for the festival.

Clark said what makes their ribs stand out is that they’re consistent and use a sweet rub. They also have more than just ribs, and he said if it’s not right, they won’t serve it. 

“We have Mac and cheese, potato salad, world famous baked beans, five different beans, three different meats. It’s a standout,” Clark said.

After Hours Barbecue is expected to be one of 39 food vendors participating in the Rib Fest.

According to Clark, they’re in sixth place in people’s choice, have the second-best sauce and the best ribs. 

He said preparing for the festival by placing an order in the winter and ends with a semi-truckload delivery a day before set-up and it’s not cheap. 

“Yeah, our grocery bills pretty big,” Clark said.

But they said it’s fun being able to work with their close friends and family.

“We’re excited about Columbus,” Clark said. “It’s a good show.”