YOUNGSTOWN — Charlie Staples Bar-B-Q, one of the most iconic restaurants in Youngstown, was sold with the longtime owners retiring and the new owners planning to add some food options and esports to the menu.

Charlie and Marge Staples sold the business at 372 W. Rayen Ave. on Tuesday to Casey Pitts and Tonia Farmer Pitts, who owned Pitt Boss BBQ and Gamers Lounge at 2077 Elm Road NE in Warren, which was destroyed in a July 2022 fire.

“I’ve been looking for a new place and Charlie and I connected,” said Casey Pitts. “He was ready to retire and I was ready to take over his empire.”

particularly the legendary sauce made with a “cup of love” in each batch. The sauce is more than 100 years old and has now been sold to its third business.

Bill Robinson, who ran a restaurant for 35 years at the Charlie Staples location, bought the recipe from an unidentified couple who created it in 1911. Robinson then sold the recipe and the property to Staples, who opened in 1974.

“I have nothing but fond memories of my time in Youngstown,” Staples said. “It’s been a labor of love. My wife and I love what we’ve done, but we’ve done it for so long. It’s time to move on. I’m really fortunate to find an excellent candidate to take it over and keep the legacy going. He bought the building, the name, the sauce, everything, the whole nine yards.”

Pitts is renaming the restaurant Charlie Staples Bar-B-Q and Pitt Boss Esports Lounge.

Pitts said he doesn’t plan any major changes to the restaurant.

“We’re going to make some additions,” he said. “He didn’t have green beans and candy yams. Weáre going to add that. I’m also going to add esports for the young people to have a safe place to play games. We’re going to merge the two businesses together and keep that family atmosphere.”

The changes will be done over the coming few months, Pitts said.

dskolnick@vindy.com