From Walgreens to Rib Shack Royalty: Pibb's Rib Shack Story

In this heartfelt episode of the Chop Shop Show, hosts Daryl "EZDZ" Newton, Greg Doss AKA Ruff, and Waldo "Dade City" Woodard welcome longtime friend Marlon Lovett and his wife Regina, owners of Pibb's Rib Shack, for a raw, inspiring conversation about love, hustle, and building a barbecue empire from the ground up. The crew kicks off with playful banter about sports rivalries and dirty shirts before diving into Marlon and Regina's origin story—they met at a Tallahassee Walgreens where Regina worked cosmetics and Marlon delivered Budweiser. What started as a tough pursuit (Marlon had to ditch a crazy ex first) blossomed into a 19-year marriage anchored by faith, with Philippians 4:13 as their guiding verse. The couple shares how Pibb's began after Marlon backed out of a partnership to bet on himself and Regina, turning a small trailer into a thriving food truck slinging ribs, mac & cheese, and collards that keep customers coming back. They get real about the grind: gatekeeping in the food industry, hiring struggles in a "hustle culture" gap, and why they’d rather toss $50 in meat than risk a bad plate. Marlon emphasizes paying it forward—like the caterer who bankrolled their first event—while Regina shines as the steady force who learned to cook his way. The hosts connect over spouse dynamics, pride in Southern cooking, and rejecting social media haters who blast without calling. Marlon opens up about life as an amputee who never stops moving, his sons’ resistance to the family dream, and massive catering wins (like feeding 1,000 post-Katrina). Rapid-fire reveals Regina’s love for pineapple and Tyler Perry, Marlon’s obsession with smoked turkey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Eric B. & Rakim. The episode closes with sponsor shoutouts, Halloween tips, and a reminder to turn clocks back for daylight saving.

 

**Topic Chapters**  

00:00 – Intro & Host Banter  

00:01 – Marlon & Regina Enter  

00:02 – How They Met at Walgreens  

00:04 – First Date & Early Relationship  

00:05 – Birth of Pibb’s Rib Shack  

00:06 – Building the Trailer & State Approval  

00:08 – First Big Break with Angel the Caterer  

00:09 – Hiring Challenges & Generational Hustle  

00:12 – Pride in Food Quality & Customer Service  

00:14 – Handling Bad Reviews & Social Media  

00:18 – Kids & Passing the Torch  

00:20 – Big Catering Gigs & Truck Driving Days  

01:12 – Brunch Collaborations & Future Plans  

01:15 – Shoutouts & Sponsor Roll  

01:27 – Rapid Fire with Marlon & Regina  

01:32 – Closing & Next Week Tease  

 

**YouTube Tags**  

Chop Shop Show, Pibb's Rib Shack, Marlon Lovett, Regina Lovett, Tampa BBQ, food truck business, Black entrepreneurs, couple goals, Southern cooking, Philippians 4:13, pay it forward, catering success, hiring struggles, customer service, amputee entrepreneur, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric B Rakim, rapid fire, Tampa podcast, EZDZ, Greg Doss, Waldo Woodard