It Starts in a Firehouse
Every plate of barbecue tells a story. Ours starts in a firehouse. Station House BBQ was founded by Anthony Fonseca, a retired firefighter, and his wife Allison, a local school teacher. Long before there was a catering trailer or an award to hang on the wall, there were backyard smoke sessions — brisket and ribs cooked low and slow for fellow first responders after long shifts.
Discipline at the Pit
There's a reason firefighters make good pitmasters. Both demand patience, attention, and respect for the fire. Anthony brought years of firehouse discipline to the smoker — the same steady focus it takes to manage a blaze, applied to managing heat, smoke, and time. That precision is what gives our barbecue its bold-but-soulful flavor: a tribute to Florida's deep barbecue roots, cooked the way it should be, without shortcuts.
Allison rounds out the experience with the thing you can't smoke into a brisket — hospitality. Her warmth turns a meal into a moment, and a customer into a regular.
Built on Service
Joining the founders is Joshua Paul Hooks, a lifelong entrepreneur and philanthropist whose vision helped shape Station House BBQ into a brand that celebrates food, family, and community service. Under that leadership, a humble firehouse tradition grew into a Tampa Bay institution.
Our mission has stayed simple the whole way: serve exceptional food, honor our heroes, and give back to the community that built us.
Where We Are Today
From our home in Seminole Heights, we cater weddings, corporate events, and celebrations of every size across Tampa Bay — from intimate gatherings of 20 to events for 1,000+ guests. But no matter how much we grow, the heart of it is still the same as those first backyard cooks.
Ready to Plan Your Event?
Contact Station House BBQ today for a free consultation and custom quote