Leon's BBQ reopens in Woodlawn

What's the recipe for success for a South Side barbecue restaurant?

Leon's BBQ says it's a mix of secret sauce, a dash of a Hollywood actor and a big helping of a past president.

Leon's BBQ had its grand reopening in Woodlawn on Thursday and fans couldn't wait to get a bite.

Leon Finney opened the original Leon’s in 1940, creating a South Side staple. When Finney got sick, his son was forced to close in 2011, leaving loyal fans longing, including Denzel Washington.

The Obama Presidential Center will be located a block away, which was news that really pushed the Finney family back into the BBQ business.

“It feels great and it tells you why my father would be happy. I don't believe my father was happy in his grave as I closed the door, so he'd be happy,” Leon Finney said.