The Preppy Pig is no more.

Touisset resident Patrick DeSocio, who opened the Metacom Avenue BBQ joint six months ago, has closed both it and his Jamestown location, though they will stay open under new ownership. He announced his decision to close on his Facebook page Tuesday evening:

“Well folks, the time has come to move on. We’re relocating and will have some very exciting news to share with you soon! Both locations will be open under different ownership.”

Mr. DeSocio opened his Metacom Avenue location in June, after working in catering for years.

Preppy Pig had been a staple of the East Bay’s culinary scene for nearly 10 years. Prior to 2007, when he opened his catering business, Mr. DeSocio been cooking barbecue as a hobby when his dad asked him to make barbecue for a Superbowl party. It went over so well, he put plans on hold to get a Master’s in education and instead started working on a business plan. He called it Preppy Pig on a lark and never stopped cooking. Instantly recognizable in his pink, green and purple Range Rover, Mr. DeSocio became one of the busiest caterers in the state — but he always wanted to open up a restaurant. With a dearth of barbecue restaurants in the Ocean State, the time seemed right for him to take the leap, Mr. DeSocio said.

“It took a while,” he said. “I was waiting to perfect the craft.”

In June, he said he thought he found the perfect location, in the back half of the same building occupied by McBlarney’s County Tap.

“We’ve had such a great response,” Mr. DeSocio said in June. “This is really our flagship mothership location. We’re really happy to finally be here.”

Note: In his Facebook announcement, Mr. DeSocio his catering schedule for 2017 is filling up.

“If you’re looking to book an event, please get in touch,” he wrote.