In celebration of its 10-year anniversary, 4R Restaurant Group announced a variety of monthly specials at each of its 4 Rivers Smokehouses. The award-winning barbecue brand has also expanded its Walt Disney World Resort culinary offerings with the opening of two new eateries at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
John Rivers, 4R Restaurant Group Founder and CEO, began smoking meats in his garage as a labor of love to support local philanthropic causes. He eventually parlayed his passion into his profession with the opening of the original 4 Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park in 2009, followed by 13 additional Smokehouses in Florida and Georgia as well as The Coop, also located in Winter Park. To celebrate such a delicious decade, each 4 Rivers Smokehouse will offer a variety of limited-time-only specials throughout the year, including:
- January: John’s Brisket Chili
- February: Spud Love (baked potato served with your choice of meat and topped with cheddar cheese, jalapeños, green onions, sour cream and 4R Signature Sauce)
- March: Destroyer Madness (expanded variety of the classic Texas Destroyer)
- April: Backyard Chicken Sandwich (flame-grilled chicken breast, Alabama White Sauce, melted provolone, bacon, lettuce and tomato)
- May: Brisket Sliders with new signature sauces
- Summer Specials: Freedom Dog, Baby Back Ribs, New Summer Salads, 10-Year Anniversary Sauce
- September: Brisket Burger
- October: Special pricing on All-Time Favorites Menu, anniversary celebration event at Winter Park 4 Rivers Smokehouse
- November: The Pilgrim (smoked turkey sandwich sacked with savory stuffing, warm gravy and tart cranberry chutney)
- December: Porklet (crispy-fried pork tenderloin loaded with chipotle aioli, pickles, and fresh arugula)
To commemorate its 10-year anniversary, 4 Rivers will also collaborate with local artists in each market on original creations at select Smokehouses that personify the company culture, local community and various milestones over the past decade. A complete list of participating artists and Smokehouses will be released when all project details have been finalized.
“First and foremost, the entire 4 Rivers family sincerely thanks everyone for the continued support over the past decade. It’s been an honor to break bread, or better yet, brisket, with so many friends since opening the original Smokehouse in 2009,” says Rivers. “We look forward to growing our barbecue ministry for many years to come, while staying true to our core values of serving the highest quality food and supporting causes that build better communities.”
Among 4R Restaurant Group’s immediate growth plans are the recent openings of two new concessions venues at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex located in Walt Disney World Resort, which attracts nearly two million athletes, coaches and fans annually for world class competitions. Both eateries – a walk-up version of 4 Rivers Smokehouse and a walk-up version of 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa, the popular Mexican-inspired concept that debuted at Disney Springs last year – are now open in The Arena, a 300,000-square-foot facility. Each 4 Rivers outpost serves a variety of signature dishes, including Smoked Brisket and Feisty Chicken Sandwich (a favorite from The Coop available for the first time at 4 Rivers) at the Smokehouse concession, and the beloved Taco Cone filled with choice of meats at the 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa concession. Both locations will operate only during events being held in The Arena.
“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to make our culinary offerings more widely available at Walt Disney World Resort with the addition of two new 4 Rivers eateries in The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex,” adds Rivers. “As a sports destination, athletes from more than 60 countries visit the Complex annually and we’re proud to offer them authentic local cuisine from 4 Rivers Smokehouse and 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa.”
The new ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex concessions follow in the footsteps of the brand’s recent debut at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, which now offers signature 4 Rivers dishes during all events at the venue.
The brand’s line of signature 4R products has also recently expanded with national delivery now available through Amazon, which lets barbecue lovers from across the country have Smoked Brisket, Sauces, Rubs and more shipped directly to their homes.
A variety of philanthropic endeavors will also be established by The 4R Foundation in conjunction with the 10-year anniversary, including a special edition of the brand’s signature charity event, Cows ‘n Cabs, which takes place in Winter Park each Fall. In 2018, The 4R Foundation helped more than 950 local schools, churches and charitable organizations.
