David O. Jones’s Texas-style barbecue is getting a brick-and-mortar location in Greenville.
Jones, better known as “Big Dave” by barbecue lovers across the South, has already been operating his food truck out of the parking lot near Greenville Memorial Hospital. But after months of preparation – and years of experience – he’ll be opening the doors on the new Big Dave’s All American BBQ location just across the lot at 1193 W. Faris Road.
“Already we’ve met and made new friends by the mobile setup being out there and have won over some new customers,” Jones said, “so hopefully it’ll transition right on into the brick and mortar smoothly, where they can come in and sit down or come through the drive-thru.”
The concept for the new location aims to satisfy Jones’ traditional customer base that expects the regular Texas barbecue favorites — brisket, pork, ribs, sandwiches, sides and the like — but he also wants to meet the needs of the hospital workers. A large hot bar and salad bar will allow customers to come in quickly for a meal on their lunch break.
“We’re kind of locked right here in the nest of this medical community, and often folks don’t have a lot of time for lunch,” Jones said. “We really want to just try to be conscious of people’s time and the work they’re doing, just try to give them something quick and delicious.”
Those walking into the new location will be greeted with a mural celebrating Jones’ family history, with images of his son, DJ Jones, who plays defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, as well as other celebrities and icons Jones has fed during his long culinary career. His roster of fans is legion: from professional athletes like Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys, to pro football coaches like Barry Switzer of the Cowboys and Dan Reeves of the Atlanta Falcons, to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and even presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
But the mural also celebrates local sports celebrities, telling a story that Jones hopes will bridge the gap between the community as a whole and the sports community in particular.
“The other day, we had an elderly woman who stopped in and wanted to see the building, and she was looking at the mural and actually saw someone that she went to school with back in the day, a former athlete,” Jones said.
Jones has had an equally long career. He’s gone from operating three successful restaurants in Dallas, Texas to serving out of a gas station in Greenville, South Carolina to operating a food truck on Anderson Road. He’s been flush and he’s been broke. He’s been up and he’s been down. He has, in his own words, “been humbled, worked the grind, put in some brutal hours along the way.”
He sees the new location as the next step in that journey.
“It’s like with that elderly lady seeing an old face on the wall,” he said. “We want to celebrate what’s gone on in the past and what’s going on today, and it just warmed my heart hearing her comment on that and get excited.”
More at https://thebigdavesbbq.com/.
