Bell Heir’s BBQ Is Open In The River Oaks Mall

Tyris Bell is the owner of Bell Heir’s BBQ in Calumet City at River Oaks Mall. Photo provided by Tyris Bell.
Tyris Bell is the owner of Bell Heir’s BBQ in Calumet City at River Oaks Mall. Photo provided by Tyris Bell.

Bell Heir’s BBQ Is Open In The River Oaks Mall

By Tia Carol Jones

Tyris Bell remembers being at his great grandmother Luella’s house, where the family would gather for holidays and parties and she would cook. Bell recently opened Bell Heir’s BBQ in the River Oaks Mall in Calumet City. The barbecue restaurant was previously located in Canaryville.

Bell Heir’s Menu items include smoked rib tips, 24-hour brined buttermilk fried chicken wings, a brisket burger, a brisket pizza, a brisket mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, and pizzas – topped with everything from jerk turkey and brisket to sausage and pepperoni.

Bell took up culinary arts in high school, and when he graduated from high school, he worked at different places and took culinary classes. During his time in kitchens, he learned different aspects of cooking. He took some time off, working at Menard’s, learning customer service and how to talk to people. Then, he came back and started running his own business.

 During Bell’s time with his brother Darnell Reed at Luella’s Southern Kitchen, he came up with the idea for Bell Heir’s BBQ.  Tyris said whenever they were having barbecue at the restaurant, customers would gravitate towards it. Through travelling and trying different barbecues, he perfected his craft, even when cooking barbecue at home.

While Bell said that he doesn’t have a favorite item on the menu, the most popular item on the menu is the brisket burger and the jerk turkey tips. Tyris said while searching for a place for the new Bell Heir’s location once the lease was up at the Canaryville location the perfect space became available in the South Suburbs. 

I learned that the River Oaks Shopping Mall had spaces available and it would afford him good foot traffic by it being a shopping mall. He said that people visiting the shopping center would come to the food court and see Bell Heir’s BBQ and will purchase the food, even if they have never heard of the restaurant. Bell said since opening Bell Heirs BBQ the first week in February, business has been pretty good.

“We’ve been getting a lot of repeat customers that knew us from back when we were located on 47th street and the people in the mall, they come by a lot. We’ve been doing pretty good so far,” he said.

In addition to their dine-in and carryout menu, Bell Heir’s BBQ also offers a catering program that is available for faith-based gatherings, corporate and nonprofit events, as well as birthdays, reunions and graduations. Bell Heir’s BBQ is located at 96 River Oaks Center Drive, Calumet City, Ill. The restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  For more information about Bell Heir’s BBQ, visit www.bellheirsbbq.com, or call 773-786-3030.

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