MONTGOMERY—Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday announced a newly created hall of fame to honor Alabama’s love of barbecue. The Alabama Barbecue Hall of Fame will include 29 restaurants in Alabama that have been open for at least 50 years.
“The State of Alabama has become a destination for barbecue lovers across the country,” said Governor Bentley. “The hall of fame provides a way for us to celebrate the great restaurants that have made Alabama a tourist attraction.
Governor Robert Bentley
Those being recognized are significant members of their communities, and I encourage Alabamians to get out and enjoy the 29 restaurants being honored.”
The hall of fame was developed by the Alabama Department of Tourism as part of its “Year of Alabama Barbecue” promotion highlighting the state’s barbecue heritage. Restaurants will receive a personalized plaque at a June 29 luncheon at the Golden Rule Bar-B-Q restaurant in Irondale. Golden Rule opened in 1891 and is the oldest restaurant in Alabama.
“A recent survey revealed that barbecue restaurants make up the highest percentage of restaurants in Alabama which rivals any other state. Travelers are looking for an authentic barbecue experience and we want to help drive business to these great local establishments,” said Lee Sentell, state tourism director.
The restaurants and the years that they opened include:
Golden Rule Bar-B-Q (1891), Irondale
Dobb’s Famous Bar-B-Que (1910), Dothan
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q (1925), Decatur
Brenda’s Bar-B-Que Pit (1942), Montgomery
Carlile’s Barbeque (1945), Birmingham
Barbeque Hut (1946), Heflin
Cotton’s Barbecue (1946), Eclectic
Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot (1946), Selma
Mud Creek Fish Camp & Bar-B-Que (1946), Hollywood
Atkins Barbecue (1947), Eutaw
Dick Howell Barbeque Pit (1947), Florence
The Hilltop Grill (1951), Union Springs
Leo and Susie’s Famous Green Top Bar-B-Q (1951), Dora
Old Greenbrier Restaurant (1952), Madison
Top Hat Barbecue (1952); Hayden
Johnny Ray’s BBQ (1953), Pelham
Dick Russell’s Famous Bar-B-Q (1954), Mobile
David Gibson’s Barbecue (1956), Huntsville
Gibson’s Bar-B-Q (1956), Huntsville
Singleton’s Bar B Que (1956), Florence
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q, Bessemer (1957)
Dreamland Bar-B-Que Ribs (1958), Tuscaloosa
Mary’s Pit Bar-B-Que (1958), Gurley
Rocket Drive Inn (1958), Jacksonville
Demetri’s BBQ (1961), Homewood
Archibald’s Bar-B-Q (1962), Northport
Johnny’s Bar B Que (1963), Cullman
Brooks Barbecue (1965), Muscle Shoals
Whitt’s Barbecue (1966), Athens
The Alabama Tourism Department has won top national and regional awards from the
United States Travel Association, National Council of State Tourism Directors, Travel Weekly magazine, the Southeast Tourism Society, and the Southern Public Relations Federation for its previous “Year of” marketing campaigns aimed at encouraging the visitors to experience the best of Alabama. More than 24 million travelers spent a combined total of $11.8 billion in the state in 2014, supporting the jobs of more than 163,000 Alabamians and contributing more than $768 million in state and local tax revenues.
A barbecue website, smartphone app, traveling photo exhibit, the book Alabama Barbecue: Delicious Road Trips and a documentary film about the state’s barbecue culture have also been created by the tourism department for its “Year of Alabama Barbecue” promotion. For more information see www.alabamabbq.com.
MEDIA RELEASE/OFFICE OF ALABAMA GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY
