Growth Chains: Old Carolina Barbecue CompanyGrowth Chains: Old Carolina Barbecue Company

Like many of Brian Bailey’s fellow northeast Ohio natives, he had traveled to North Carolina for years on vacation and developed a love for the Tar Heel State’s style of barbecue.

But rather than come back with a kite or some other coastal souvenir, the co-founder of Ichor Restaurant Group returned home with the idea for a fast-casual restaurant concept inspired by the roadside barbecue shacks he had visited as a tourist and traveling salesman.

In 2006 North Canton, Ohio-based Ichor opened its first Old Carolina Barbecue Company restaurant in nearby Massillon, Ohio. The brand now has five company-owned restaurants centered on the area 60 miles south of Cleveland, with two franchised locations open and two more in development.

Ichor’s headqu...