Smokey’s BBQ has new home

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

When Ron Boone won a Master Chef award for his homemade barbecue in the 1980s, he never thought about food as a career. Today, Boone, his wife, Marsha, and their daughter, Beth Boone Pulliam, own and operate Smokey’s BBQ in Wytheville.
Since opening in 1999, their business outgrew its original location at 800 E. Main St. Smokey’s BBQ is now located just down the street at 1090 E. Main St., beside Thompson Tires.
“Our lease was up and we needed more room,” Ron Boone noted from his office in the new building, which includes a larger dining area and a banquet room. “We have a seating capacity for 49 here where we had a seating capacity for 28 at the other location.”
Boone’s first foray into making barbecue was in the 1980s while the family was living in Northern Virginia. His brother gave him a smoker, which led to entering a barbecue cook-off competition in Fairfax.
Boone won first place in beef and pork and third place in chicken. His Master Chef award qualified him for the Tournament of Champions in Grand Prairie, Texas.
“We finished ninth place, which was pretty good for not being from Texas,” Boone pointed out.
The Boones moved to the Wytheville area in 1990 where Ron took a sales position at East River Metals in Rocky Gap. He later worked at Simply Country in Wytheville until it was sold and then he managed Quality Farm and Fleet in Marion before going into business for himself.
“There’s a lot more pressure when you work for yourself,” stated Boone, who also owns Smokey’s BBQ in Marion. “But it is a little easier when you do it for yourself. We’ve been blessed this year. Our sales are up.”
Five other employees beside the Boones turn out the food Tuesdays through Saturdays. They serve many repeat customers and new ones, too.
Smokey’s BBQ is open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. It is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
“We’ve added a few things to the menu,” Ron Boone added. “We’re staying with our barbecue.”
His specialty is beef and chicken, which are pulled and then chopped. His homemade sauces are sweet tomato sauce and hot pepper and vinegar sauce.
Patrons are able to add their preference of sauce and amount.
“We use between four and five gallons a day,” Boone said.
Pulliam manages the restaurant with Ron Boone, doing the payroll and record keeping. Marsha Boone, an employee at Wordsprint Inc. in Wytheville, helps out at night and on Saturdays.
“We get along well,” Pulliam said of the family working relationship.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or .