Thirty Years at the Bridge, Now Tony’s Barbeque Must Move

For more than three decades, Tony’s Barbeque has welcomed customers at the foot of the BelCan Bridge. Now, with a major redevelopment project on the horizon, the longtime business is being asked to move. The owners say they support the government’s plans, but conflicting instructions about when they need to leave have left them searching for answers. Tonight, they’re speaking out, not to oppose the project, but to call for clarity and a smoother transition.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

For decades, Tony’s Barbecue has been a lunchtime favorite at the foot of the BelCan Bridge. Now, with bridge renovations on the horizon, the popular eatery is preparing to move. The business is among several vendors required to vacate the area by August fifteenth. While co-owner Sarah Beck says they’re willing to relocate, she claims conflicting instructions from officials have left her and her husband unsure about when and how that move should happen.

 

Sarah Beck, Co-owner, Tony’s Barbeque

“In the meeting, the MIDH was there, people from the Belize City Council was there. And in that meeting they told us that the bridge is not even going to be built until next year, and that the bridge, the BelCan Bridge will be broken down after the Christmas holiday, so that will make the bridge available to the parade and whatever Christmas functions happen around that timeframe. Thereafter, they told us we did, we did not have to move until November. Possibly December and January.”

 

Prior to that meeting, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing had issued public notice back in April, informing businesses in that vicinity of the planned renovations with instructions to vacate by May seventh.  Following that notice, Chief Engineer Evondale Moody met with Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner to discuss the relocations.

 

Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, MIDH (File: May 13^th, 2026)

“I have written to the mayor of Belize City with respect to  those relocation, with respect to the vendor near the taxi stand, which is just behind SaveU, with respect to Tony’s Barbecue, and also with respect to the shed that is over by BWS just across on the south side  of the bridge. So I have written to the mayor with respect to those, and he has committed to ensuring that he works with these vendors to get them relocated as soon as possible.”

 

According to Beck, Mayor Wagner has identified a new location for the business, not too far away from where they are currently based, near the Cleopatra White Polyclinic. We asked Wagner today how the council is ensuring that the transition happens smoothly.

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“We don’t want to see any entrepreneur out of business. We nurture and cherish all our entrepreneurs in the city. Tony has been a staple food outlet, barbecue outlet for many years and so I was able to speak with them this morning and have a clear pathway on how we will get past this little bump in the road. I look at it as a bump in the road. We at the city don’t want to see any entrepreneur out of business. At the same time, MIDH has its responsibilities as well to see the construction of the new BelCan Bridge, and we are also always looking at safety for residents. So that discussion this morning was to really reassure them Ms. Beck and Tony, that the city stands ready to work along with them for relocation.”

 

Tony’s Barbeque isn’t fighting the move; it just wants to make sure the new location works for everyone. The owners say they’re looking for a site that won’t block pedestrian traffic and won’t create concerns about smoke affecting nearby businesses or healthcare facilities. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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