On a corner in Richmond, California, there’s a business that has celebrated the city’s Black history and Southern roots for 30 years: CJ’s BBQ & Fish. Born and raised in Richmond, with a family that came from Arkansas to work in the shipyards, Charles Evans is at the center of it all.
Richmond’s “Minister of Food” serves Southern BBQ, California-style
Charles “CJ” Evans stands outside CJ’s BBQ and Fish in Richmond on Nov. 19, 2025, which serves barbecue, seafood, and Southern-style comfort food.
