Swansea’s No Joke Smoke BBQ Closes After 10 Years

After nearly a decade of smoky brisket, scratch-made sauces and community connections that went way beyond barbecue, Swansea’s No Joke Smoke BBQ has officially closed its doors.

For owner Ryan Nahas and his wife Sharon, this wasn’t just a business. It was a chapter of life filled with long nights, big risks, proud moments, and ultimately a tough but necessary decision.

If you’ve ever grabbed their food at a festival, brewery pop-up, fundraiser or the Wilbur Avenue location, you probably felt that passion firsthand. As Ryan says, the barbecue was never just about food. It was always about people.

From 35 Jars to a SouthCoast Staple

Believe it or not, No Joke Smoke BBQ started humbly, with just 35 jars of their popular "Saweet Heat" barbecue sauce at the old Rochester Farmers Market.

They sold out on day one.

That sauce became No Joke Smoke's flagship, followed by hits like "Pineapple Bomb" and the award-winning "Strawberry Habanero," which took first place nationally in a specialty barbecue sauce category. At one point, their sauces were in two dozen stores, and their catering calendar stayed packed.

Then COVID hit, and like so many restaurants, survival became the priority.

Ryan paused sauce production, poured everything into the restaurant and catering side, and kept the business alive longer than many others in the region.

Still, the grind never really stopped.

Margins shrank, the hours stayed long, and after turning 50 and losing his mother last year – while also serving as her caregiver during her battle with Parkinson’s – Ryan knew it might be time for a reset.

A Decision Rooted in Family and Future

Closing wasn’t impulsive.

Ryan said he and Sharon talked through every angle. They had opportunities to keep the business going, even offers of financial backing. However, continuing would have meant more stress, more risk and potentially more sacrifice than they were willing to take on.

READ MORE: Westport BBQ Favorite Bootleg BBQ Closes After Nearly Three Years

Running a business together also meant taking work stress home. Like many entrepreneurial couples, they found themselves arguing about problems neither one actually caused – just the pressure of wearing every hat imaginable.

Ultimately, they chose stability and a new chapter over burnout. Bittersweet? Absolutely, but also hopeful.

A New Chapter Down South

Ryan recently relocated to Savannah, Georgia, where he’s stepping into a new role as assistant food and beverage manager at the JW Marriott. It’s a chance to focus on hospitality without carrying the entire weight of ownership. That's something he admits he’s looking forward to.

The move happened fast, but it felt right.

Savannah has always held a special place for the couple, and Ryan said the slower pace and welcoming community have already made an impression.

As for the sauces, recipes and food trailer? Nothing is off the table, but nothing is rushed, either. For now, they’re focusing on settling in, selling their home and simply breathing after years of nonstop hustle.

A Legacy That Won’t Be Forgotten

Even though the smokers have cooled, the impact No Joke Smoke BBQ made locally is undeniable.

From brewery collaborations and charity events like Jeeps for Peeps, to mentoring entrepreneurs through EforAll and showing up at countless community gatherings, Ryan and Sharon built more than a barbecue brand. They built relationships.

Judging by the flood of messages they’ve received since announcing the closure on  February 5, that effort didn’t go unnoticed.

Ryan told me the last few days have reminded him just how much the business meant to people – and how much those people meant to him. In the end, he doesn’t see this as failure, he sees it as evolution.

Honestly, after 10 years in one of the toughest restaurant niches out there, he’s earned that perspective, because while No Joke Smoke BBQ may be closing its chapter here on the SouthCoast, the story – and the community it helped build – isn’t going anywhere.