Erik Hoover, a Portage County native and a classically trained chef, opened Cockeye BBQ in 2015 with his wife and sons. What began as a hobby of hosting backyard BBQs and catering graduations, weddings and parties grew to a size that was just too big for their garage. With the money they saved doing what they loved, they purchased a building and opened Cockeye offering old-style smokehouse BBQ, specializing in beef brisket, chicken, pulled pork and pork ribs. Stop and visit for old-style, slow-cooked BBQ and check out their menus special for sandwiches and sides made to order.

We love being a guest on WFMJ in Youngstown and enjoyed sharing one of our families favorite grilled sandwiches, the Chicken Spiedie!

We earned the HBK Growth Award at the annual Chamber of Commerce meeting. Here’s a short video about our little restaurant and growing business.

Featured on local TV WKBN for a segment titled “My Valley Pros”.

WARREN, Ohio — Erik Hoover is not your typical buyer at the Trumbull County Junior Fair. Yes, he’s wearing overalls. Yes, he has a can of chewing tobacco in his pocket and a spit cup handy. But that’s where the commonality ends.

He’s got on bright white glasses and a flat cap and his fully tattooed arms are on display. His right arm is his meat arm, with a rack of ribs, a hog’s head and a knife. His left arm is all veggies.

In this month’s Inspired By Our Community interview, we had the amazing opportunity to sit down with our friend, Stacey Hoover of Cockeye BBQ. Along with her amazing family, Stacey has pioneered a booming BBQ business located in Warren, and rapidly expanding! We’re so excited to be able to share Stacey’s story with you. Take a look!

In this week’s Tuesday Sit Down, Erik Hoover, owner of Cockeye BBQ in Warren, discusses plans to convert a warehouse in Warren into a creamery and distribution hub for the restaurant.

He also gives and update on their work to open a larger, second location inside Penguin City Brewery in Youngstown this Fall.

WARREN, Ohio – On the heels of announcing that it will open a second location, Cockeye BBQ and Creamery has taken an even bigger step.

Max comes from a family of Golden Flashes. His parents, Erik and Stacey, ’93, both attended Kent State University. In 2015, his parents opened Cockeye BBQ, and they have since expanded the business to offer a sweet treat that would compliment their award-winning food - ice cream. Max is the owner and operator of Cockeye Creamery, a Warren, Ohio, staple offering unique ice cream flavors that showcase local and unexpected ingredients. Max uses his background as a KSU science major to experiment with innovative flavors for the creamery. While creating one-of-a-kind flavors is Max’s passion, he is grateful the business also allows him to make a difference in his family’s community. Get to know Max in his own words.

Holy smokes we are hosting from Cockeye BBQ and learn the backstory of the successful restaurant and sample some of their amazing entrees! Brought to you by Steelite International.

387 Chestnut Avenue has a rich history of paving the way for businesses to succeed, here’s a look at two of them.

This small and homey spot on the city’s west side serves up slow-cooked barbecue favorites, new creations and a fun lineup of super-premium ice cream.

Meet Cockeye Creamery! This family-owned ice cream shop on the Westside of Warren is an expansion of Cockeye BBQ that features small batch ice cream, made daily, that combines fresh ingredients in new and unique ways.

The Business Journal stopped out to talk about our new venture into the ice cream world!