NEWBERG, Ore. — Downtown barbecue restaurant Storrs Smokehouse announced that its pitmaster, Ashlin Indiana Elwood, is taking ownership of the business.
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“Storrs Smokehouse has become my home,” Elwood said. “The community here is everything to me. I’m keeping that core menu intact, honoring what makes this place so special and the tradition of barbecue.”
Outgoing owners Jessica Bagley and Allen Routt, who also own The Painted Lady Restaurant in Newberg, opened Storrs Smokehouse in April 2014 as a tribute to Routt’s Southern roots, according to the Storrs Smokehouse website.
The deal has been in the works for over a year after Elwood expressed interest in buying the business. Bagley and Routt said they felt it was a perfect fit and that the change would allow them to refocus on The Painted Lady Restaurant.
“[Elwood] has been a tremendous force at Storrs Smokehouse, bringing skill, care, and dedication to every aspect of the operation,” Bagley and Routt said. “We know he’ll carry forward the traditions of Storrs Smokehouse while adding his unique touch, and we’re excited to see where he takes it.”
According to a representative from The Painted Lady Restaurant, Elwood started working in restaurants at 17 years old as a dishwasher and has held various kitchen positions since. Most recently, he was head chef at a small bar before joining the Storrs team.
Elwood has managed Storrs Smokehouse as pitmaster since 2018. He said he plans to keep core menu items—such as smoked brisket, pork, ribs, and chicken, along with baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and coleslaw—while also introducing new culinary ideas and integrating more “Oregon character.”
Storrs has featured unique Oregon ingredients and techniques, including hazelnut wood in the smoker and a signature Pinot Noir BBQ sauce. Elwood said he will build on those traditions and bring back some of his personal favorites, like biscuits and gravy on the weekends.
Storrs Smokehouse will be closed until Nov. 21 while Elwood transitions into the ownership role. The reopening date could change, as it depends on factors like the timing of license transfers.
For reopening updates and more information, visit Storrs Smokehouse’s Instagram page or website.
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