Troy Township, Ohio--As Joseph and Joyce Piteo and family unbox 32 years of memories, they're reminded of humble beginnings in the mid-80s.

• Blazin Bills has risen from the ashes, literally, from a fire—to become a must for travelers along State Route 422
• The family-owned restaurant located in Burton, Ohio has been serving smoked meats and sides for more than 30 years
• Their new location on Great Lakes Parkway is now open

The two started Blazin Bills as a converted ice cream stand serving 40 people at a time using picnic tables and paper plates.

At the time, rib cook-off competitions were popular.

“In ‘87 we went to the first one, we were totally humiliated and degraded by everybody, but I went back in 1988 and I signed up for 15 rib cook-offs, we took first place in 14 of them and we took second place at the national, so I came back strong,” said owner Joseph Piteo. 

By the early 90s they were taking home state and national awards and a TV appearance put them on the map across the state.

Their signature barbeque sauce, along with staples like baby back ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, and crab legs, attract fans from near and far.

“There are so many people that have family in Youngstown and Cleveland and we are the meeting point for that,” said Pitco. “You know everybody has food at home, everybody can call and get delivery. The reason they come here is because we give good service. You know they want to be treated special and that's what I think we do,” said Joseph Piteo.

Business was at an all-time high in 2004.

But then on Saint Patrick’s Day of that year, a small dryer fire rekindled overnight and destroyed their business.

The Piteo's were taking an EMT class at the time when their insurance agent broke the news.

“He said where have you been, he says your restaurant is gone, it was a rekindle. They noticed smoke, they called the fire department, by the time they got there it was a total waste,” said Joseph Piteo. 

The couple were under-insured and questioned whether or not to rebuild, or move on.

But they took out a mortgage and pushed forward with support from the local community.

“They knew us and they really liked us. All the businesses around here, all the people, all the community, everybody was calling and sending cards. We must have got 60 cards in the mail,” said Joyce Piteo. 

Now, after 14-years at that location, they’re expanding.

The Great Lakes Cheese Company bought Blazin Bills' old property and built them a brand new 6000 plus square foot facility right down the road on the Great Lakes Parkway.

It's the couple’s dream property with plenty of space inside and out as well as parking. 

“We really have a lot of our life experience taking place on that property. So, moving over, that has been a big deal for us,” said Brandon Piteo. 

“Over the years we've built up this huge community and huge family of employees that we know so well and have known us since we were little. Life without a restaurant, like being heavily involved with a restaurant just it wouldn't make sense,” said Sarah Piteo. 

“Nice thing is, you know, a lot of people go to work and leave their family, we would come to work with our family,” said Joseph Piteo. 

For more information, check out their website.