Written by Ginger Watkins, owner of Hickory Pit BBQ
When I first opened the Hickory Pit, I was 24 years old and no one in my family had ever been in the restaurant business — they thought I was nuts! Friends and family both would ask me all of the time if I was scared… I wasn’t scared at all! I was excited! But who is scared of anything at 24, right? I was too naive to know how hard the restaurant business can be, but determined enough to do what it took to make it work!
Now, I admit, I’ve learned a lot of things the hard way… and have had some pretty hard knocks along the way! But buying the Hickory Pit in 1979 was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Not only have my customers become dear friends, but as a single mom I was able to raise my children in a fun, lively atmosphere — where their friends wanted to ‘hang out’. My daughter and her friends would pile up in the booths during the afternoon, when it was slow to talk about the day and they would sometimes go ahead and do their homework. One time my son was showing off to his friends (or possibly the girls) and dove off of a table like Superman; which resulted in a concussion!
My goal for the Hickory Pit was, and still is, to provide the best BBQ and the best customer service along with fun times and lasting memories! For 35 years, my customers have created Hickory Pit’s success. I am so proud to have earned three generations of customers… and two generations of employees! I would say success in the restaurant business comes from a LOT of hard work, being true to yourself as well as your customers!
Jackson: photographs by Ken Murphy is available now for purchase. To order a copy, call Lemuria Books at 601.366.7619, visit us online at lemuriabooks.com, or stop by the Hickory Pit for a signed copy!
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