For 14 years, Avery “Lew” Lewis has served more than barbecue at Lew’s BBQ in Everett.
Known for spending as much time talking with customers as cooking for them, Lewis has built a reputation as someone who listens, encourages and helps anyone who walks through his doors at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Fulton Street.
“From prepping the meat in the early morning hours to serving up meals with a smile, Lew’s BBQ isn’t just his job, it’s his passion, his pride, and his livelihood,” his daughter Mia wrote on GoFundMe.
Now the man who has spent years lifting up others needs his community behind him.
Lewis was recently diagnosed with rectal cancer and has begun an aggressive treatment plan that includes radiation and chemotherapy, Mia said.
Because he runs the restaurant entirely by himself, treatment will force Lew’s BBQ to temporarily close for one to two months while he focuses on recovery.
“When the doors close, the income stops — but the bills don’t,” Mia wrote.
The fundraiser will help cover restaurant overhead, including rent and utilities, along with Lewis’ living expenses and medical bills while he is unable to work.
From Skid Row to Serving Everett
For many in Everett, Lew’s BBQ has become much more than a place to eat.
Customers often stop in expecting a quick meal but leave after long conversations with Lewis, who has never hidden the difficult path that brought him there.
Lewis has spoken openly about growing up in South Central Los Angeles, battling addiction for years and spending seven years homeless on Skid Row before entering a faith-based recovery program that changed the course of his life.
He later directed the rehabilitation center that helped him recover, served as a missionary in Italy, worked as a corrections officer at Monroe Correctional Complex and eventually felt called to open a barbecue restaurant in Everett.
Today, Lewis describes his restaurant as a “lighthouse” for people going through difficult times.
A Community Asked to Give Back
That mission extends beyond the kitchen. Lewis created the annual “Feed the Need” event, where he serves free barbecue while providing clothing, household items and toys to families in need.
He also invites local shelters, housing programs and recovery organizations to connect with attendees.
“God did something for me, so this is my way of giving back,” Lewis previously told Seattle Refined. “This is a calling.”
Even on an ordinary day, Lewis said he never knows whether someone walking through the front door needs food, advice or simply someone willing to listen.
Now, his family hopes the community he has spent years serving will help carry him through one of the biggest challenges of his life.
“My dad is used to taking care of everyone else,” Mia Lewis wrote on the fundraiser. “Right now, he needs our community’s support more than ever so he can rest, heal and beat this without losing everything he has built.”
Those interested in supporting the family can donate via GoFundMe here.
