Not only is BBQ a huge part of the south, but an even bigger part of North Carolina.  Everyone from North Carolina knows there are two kinds of BBQ.  You have a sweet, tomato based BBQ and a dry, vinegar BBQ.  Out of at least 5 BBQ restaurants in Winston Salem, Don’s BBQ is the only one to serve the sweet tomato based BBQ, which is my absolute favorite.

Don’s BBQ isn’t just any BBQ cafe, though.  It has been a staple on this side of town as well as my family for as long as I remember.  It only makes sense though, since my dad’s brother, Don, owns and works there.  Don’s has been the center of so many memories and lessons for not only my whole family, but for me personally.  It’s where my mother, while working as a waitress over 25 years ago, met my father.  It’s where I sat with my father while the booths on the other side of the cafe filled with Hell’s Angels and he taught me that they are human, too, and they are great men.  The only place that is filled half with local Sheriff deputies and half with leather clad Hell’s Angels, and everyone knows, respects and likes everyone in the same room.  It’s where my father and I would meet every Tuesday morning for breakfast before I went in to work.  I also worked there for a summer, as many members of our family have over the years, or still do.  It’s where we have held our family Christmas parties for years past.  It’s the first place I ever drank tea and still makes my favorite tea, ever.

Don’s holds so much history and so many great memories for me, and this September, Don is retiring and closing the doors for the last time.  It has been a long 40 years, but well deserved time off is in the near future.  The word has gotten around town, and when I spent my morning there today, Don told me how busy last Saturday got, people pouring in an hour after closing.  For 40 years, they have perfected a menu and been offered thousands for it’s recipes.  They have had local meats delivered twice weekly, Don himself cutting pork shoulders and shredding their famous BBQ with his own hands for 40 years.  His son, Chris working beside him, as well as his wife, Doris.

I showed up this morning before they opened, to take photos for the family to have and to document this time in his life, as well as my history.  Don was cutting up the BBQ while in a dish beside him sat fresh tomatoes from his own garden.  Their loyal waitress of 4 years coming in behind me, getting things ready for the day while Don shared stories of the restaurant and family.   He offered me a glass of tea and a bowl of BBQ and it was a morning I will never forget.  Don reminds me a lot of my father, his brother, and we talked about him often.  A few hours later, when it was time to go, I really was excited for what the future holds for them.  Sure, I’m a little sad and it is a time in my life to only be remembered now through stories and photographs, but I really hope these photos remind them of the amazing things they have done to the community – the amazing memories everyone has made there.

Don, cutting up pork for the BBQ.

There are little pig treasures everywhere!  I loved this one!

Story telling!

Don & Doris.

And finally, their amazing homemade onion rings, cold slaw and BBQ.