Nestled at the base of Belize’s BelCan Bridge for more than 30 years, Tony’s Barbeque has grown from a small roadside lunch stop into a beloved local institution, drawing generations of regulars and visitors alike for its signature smoked meals. Now, a major infrastructure renovation project for the crossing is forcing the decades-old eatery to pack up and move—and while its owners fully back the public works plan, conflicting official timelines have thrown their transition into disarray, prompting them to speak out this week to push for clear, coordinated guidance from authorities.
The BelCan Bridge upgrade, led by the nation’s Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH), requires all local vendors and businesses occupying space near the current structure to vacate the area to make way for pre-construction preparations. Co-owner Sarah Beck, who runs the restaurant with her husband, says the pair have no objection to relocating for the project, but competing deadlines from different government bodies have left them unable to plan their move effectively.
Beck explained that back in April, MIDH issued a formal public notice ordering all nearby businesses to leave the site by May 7. But at a recent stakeholder meeting that included both MIDH representatives and officials from the Belize City Council, attendees gave a very different timeline. “In that meeting they told us that the bridge is not even going to be built until next year, and that 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,” Beck said. “Thereafter, they told us we did not have to move until November. Possibly December and January.”
The confusion dates back to May, when MIDH Chief Engineer Evondale Moody confirmed the agency had formally contacted Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner to coordinate relocations for four affected sites, including Tony’s Barbeque, other vendors near the local taxi stand, and a structure on the bridge’s south side near Belize Water Services. Moody noted at the time that Wagner had committed to working directly with affected businesses to coordinate their moves as quickly as possible.
Thus far, the city council has made progress on identifying a new home for Tony’s Barbeque: a spot near the Cleopatra White Polyclinic, just a short distance from the restaurant’s current location at the bridge foot. But Beck and her team still have outstanding concerns about the suitability of the site, noting they want to ensure the new location does not block public pedestrian access, and that barbecue smoke from the kitchen will not create disturbances for the nearby polyclinic or surrounding businesses.
When reached for comment on the conflicting timelines, Mayor Wagner emphasized that the city council is committed to supporting local small businesses through the transition, and that he had recently met with the Tony’s Barbeque owners to resolve outstanding issues. “We don’t want to see any entrepreneur out of business. We nurture and cherish all our entrepreneurs in the city,” Wagner said. “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.”
Wagner added that the city recognizes MIDH’s responsibility to deliver the new bridge on schedule, and that public safety is a top priority for all parties involved. “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,” he said. “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.”
For the iconic eatery’s owners, the priority right now is not fighting the redevelopment project—it is securing a clear, coordinated plan that lets them relocate without closing their doors for good, and without creating disruptions for their new neighbors. As they wait for final confirmation on timelines and site details, the 30-year-old business remains open, serving regulars while preparing for the next chapter of its history in Belize City.