Dave Roberts, the co-owner of beloved Decatur barbecue restaurant Community Q, unexpectedly passed away on Monday.
Kitchen manager Will Harris confirmed the news to Decaturish on Dec. 11. He said the cause of death isn’t currently known. Harris said Roberts is lifelong friend.
“I went to college with him,” Harris said. “I’ve known him for 40 years now. Personally, it’s a tough blow.”
Community Q is operating on its normal schedule and was open on Wednesday. Harris said the restaurant will likely close down for Roberts’ funeral service. Those plans haven’t been announced.
Roberts and his business partner Stuart Baesel recently told Decaturish they were considering expanding their business.
They bought a location on White Boulevard off Lawrenceville Highway near the Home Depot nine years ago and have spent most of that time building the space. They’re also considering opening up other locations, but are not in a hurry to do so.
“It will be for production and catering initially with the hopes of adding take out and potentially dine in,” Roberts previously said. “There’s no opening date yet, with the uncertainty of DeKalb County and its permitting problems. Hopefully, one day, this facility will provide the side dishes for future locations. Each location will still smoke on site, but this should keep the side dishes consistent at each future location. No future locations [have been] decided yet.”
