A Wichita restaurant owner dreamed he was a “barbecue man.” He woke up and changed professions.

Four years ago, Jerry Bell came home after a hard day’s work as a contractor. He went to bed exhausted.

“I dreamed I was a barbecue cook,” he recalls. “And when I woke up, I changed professions from entrepreneur to barbecue cook.”

It didn’t matter that he had no grilling experience or even owned tongs, he said. He believed the message was being sent to him by a higher power.

Today, Bell owns a restaurant. His JuhBa’s Official BBQ is located in the former Charlie’s Famous Burgers building at 3200 W. 13th St. and is open Wednesday through Sunday each week. (It was closed last week while he attended a family reunion.)

After that dream, said Bell — known to his friends as Jay Bee and to his cousins ​​growing up as JuhBa — he began learning to cook on an old grill his parents owned at the time. He also purchased the old Charlie’s building, which sat vacant until he began using it earlier this year. (Charlie’s closed in 2017 after 25 years in business.)

Before that, Bell said, he had developed a clientele serving his food in the parking lot of the Family Dollar store at 21st and Grove. Finally, this year, he decided he was ready to move into the building, which has now been painted by him and is adorned with a homemade sign out front.

Bell said he became famous for a dish he calls “popcorn ribs.” It’s essentially boneless, breaded and fried ribs that look like bites of popcorn chicken.

“You put them in your mouth like popcorn,” he said.

Also on the menu: brisket, smoked meatloaf, ribs, chicken thighs, pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, chicken wings and fries. Bell said he plans to add fried catfish soon.

The small restaurant does not have seating, but Bell said it offers takeout and drive-thru service.

One of the best parts of being a restaurateur so far, he says, is interacting with kids who love his food.

Recently, he says, an 8-year-old boy and his mother came to visit. The mother wanted to show Bell a sentence her son had written in school when he was asked to describe someone who had inspired him.

On Facebook, the mother shared that her son used to order Bell’s popcorn ribs when he served them at the corner of 21st and Grove. After a few weeks of not seeing him, the son asked where Bell had gone and she told him Bell had opened his own restaurant, promising to take him there.

The boy’s diary said: “I am glad this man has his own shop.”

The mother who shared the story wanted to make sure Bell was aware of the impact he had had.

“He was so happy to hear you finally had your own restaurant,” she wrote in her message. “Thank you for inspiring him.”

JuhBa’s hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, Bell said, unless there’s an event going on. Plus, he added, 8 p.m. isn’t his official closing time: He closes the store when he runs out of food.