Mary Lou's BBQ opened on Walton Avenue late last week, and owner John Vance said that business has been steadily rising each day that he's been open since.
"We've had a great response," he said. "We're seeing repeat business, business referrals and getting a lot of drive-by business."
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The authentic BBQ joint's menu features sandwiches, platters and BBQ salads, with pork, chicken and brisket all smoked on location by Vance and Juan Gomez, a cook he has been working with for over a decade.
"To know that it's a fresh product –– you see it (smoking) and know it's fresh from the pit to the plate –– that's what barbecue is all about," Vance said.
"The objective is to keep it consistent," he added, pointing out the tried-and-true recipes he has been using for years, and still follows precisely to this day.
In his decades-long BBQ career, Vance has served NFL broadcasters, evangelist Billy Graham's family and President George H. W. Bush. While the Walton Avenue spot includes dine-in seating, Vance also specializes in carry-out, catering and specialized cooking for holidays and other events. His extended specialized menu, while still being finalized, includes smoked salmon, lamb, hams, turkey and a number of side items that aren't available on the regular menu; three day advance notice is required for those meals.
Vance said he's grateful for the friendliness and hospitality the neighborhood has offered him so far, and he looks forward to settling in even deeper into to his new location.
"As we get more acquainted with our customer base, we hope to expand our hours and do some cook-outs," he said, adding that the number of dine-in seats are currently limited due to capacity constraints. The location has formerly served as a barber shop and a shoe store in recent years; extensive construction and remodeling have transformed the atmosphere into a casual and family-friendly establishment.
Mary Lou's BBQ is located at 226 Walton Ave. Hours are Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Vance plans to expand to 8 p.m. in the coming months.
For more information, call (859) 252-4227 or e-mail MaryLousBBQ@gmail.com. Vance plans to update the website, www.marylousbbq.com, within the coming week.