Barbeque brings everybody together.
Well, almost everybody.
The Nashville community is coming together in a big way to support a local BBQ restaurant that’s being sued by one of their neighbors.
Natalie Castillo moved into the home next to Roy’s Meat Service in East Nashville two years ago. But apparently she didn’t do her research, because Roy Meat Service has been grilling up meat in the neighborhood for the past 9 years.
But the neighbor isn’t happy, and filed a lawsuit against the local business, alleging among other things that part of the restaurant encroaches on her property and that the smoke from the constant grilling is a nuisance. Castillo says in the complaint that the constant smoking of ribs, chicken and pork affect her “ability to enjoy her property as well as negatively affects her health.”
I mean, what do you really expect when you move next to a restaurant that serves smoked meats? If you ask me that just adds to the enjoyment of the property, getting to smell smoked meats all day.
Well Castillo filed the lawsuit a couple of months ago, but since then the community has come out in overwhelming support of the small business.
A GoFundMe started to support Roy’s Meat Service has already raised nearly $30,000 for owner Jeff Roy in his ongoing legal battle, which according to the organizer has included 46 complaints to city and state agencies about the business.
“To date, Jeff has spent more than $20,000 on costs of excessive renovations based on the complaints, and legal fees to cover representation in the pending lawsuit. This has been a nightmare for Jeff and Christie. The lawsuit against RMS has not only become a financial burden to the Roy family, but has inflicted extreme emotional distress.”
The fundraiser calls Roy’s Meat Service “a pillar of the community,” and seeks to raise $40,000 to support the local hot spot.
“The Roy Family has been an essential asset to the East Nashville community for generations. Jeff’s grandfather was an iceman in the neighborhood in the 1940s and his uncle was the milkman. Jeff’s father ran a store on Main Street, and like his father, Jeff is doing the same and carrying on the family legacy of serving the community.
Jeff and his Wife, Christie, opened Roy Meat Service in 2015. RMS is a convenience store, butcher shop, restaurant, and community gathering spot all in one. RMS is one of the only truly “local” spots left in the growing community of East Nashville. However despite all of this, Jeff has found himself and his business in peril.”
And the GoFundMe has been flooded with not only donations but words of support in the 9 days since it’s been started – including from people who don’t even eat meat:
“I don’t even eat meat, but gotta be on the right side of this… we need Roy’s”
“Jeff Roy is a great person and Roy Meat Service is more than a business, it’s a part of the community. Happy to support Jeff as he deals with this bully next door.”
“I hate that this is happening. Thank you for everything you do for the neighborhood.”
“Sorry these people are such shitty neighbors.”
Nothing like barbeque to bring a community together. The only problem is now I’m hungry…so maybe I’ll have to go to Roy’s for dinner tonight.
