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Owners Steve and Donna Smith have been in business since 1989, when they opened Big Smith’s BBQ, seating up to 35 customers. Today they seat up to 120 with a staff of 17. Staff photo by Jillian Smith -
At left, ribs are cut in the kitchen before being served to a customer at Big Smith’s BBQ. Staff photos by Jillian Smith -
Big Smith’s BBQ on State Highway 154 south in Sulphur Springs presents an eclectic atmosphere filled with history.
Smith’s BBQ continues to serve up popular Texas fare
Celebrating 30 years of serving up some serious Texas barbecue and catfish, Big Smith’s is pulling out all the stops leading up to the big day in September.
In 1989, Steve and Donna Smith opened up a small restaurant that served up to 35 customers. Today, they can seat up to 120 with a staff of 17, plus a catering business.
They opened the restaurant after both were laid off from their jobs on the exact same day.
“Two weeks later, two weeks to the day, we opened the restaurant on Sept. 1, 1989. It was down the road here about 4 and a half miles in an old dairy barn,” Donna said.
After adding onto the restaurant a couple of times, the Smith’s said the owners of the building wouldn’t sell to them. So, they decided to buy their own place.
“After 24 years, we bought this building, and it was a five-bay auto body shop, We had all these ideas of what to do in the interior of the restaurant. So, we did all this and added on the kitchen and restrooms and the pit room on the back. We opened in this building on Dec. 5, 2013. It was Big Smith’s BBQ, and at that point we went Big Smith’s BBQ & Catfish,” she said.
Barbecue was the main menu item, because, Steve said, “It was the only thing I knew how to cook.”
Shortly after the Smiths first started serving catfish in a second restaurant in November 2012, they began noticing their customers going back and forth for the couple’s fare.
“[W]e had customers who would come in here and one of them eat catfish then pay out and drive down to Big Smith’s to eat barbecue. …We had them going both ways,” Donna said.
“I had two sets of employees, two water bills, two phone bills — I wasn’t getting anywhere. I was running back and forth down the road putting out fires,” Steve said.
Eleven months later, they made the decision to combine their barbecue and catfish under one roof.
And that business decision has really paid off.
“Our beef ribs are our claim to fame,” Steve said.
“Behind that, one of our most popular new deals that when we moved into this restaurant and were able to expand is our brisket tacos.
We sell a lot of brisket tacos,” Donna said.
The catfish and barbecue, Steve explained, run neck-and-neck in popularity, according to the restaurant’s sales receipt.
“They’re both 48%,” he said.
The remaining menu choices are made up of standard American fare, like burgers and chicken fingers.
To mark the anniversary of what has become one of Sulphur Springs’ more popular eating experiences, Big Smith’s is giving away gift certificates of $25 and menu items each week on their Facebook page at Big-SmithsBBQ.
“I started [this] at eight weeks where you comment, like and share,” Donna explained. “Each week I do a drawing for a $25 gift card.”
During the month of September, when a customer pays out after their meal, the ticket can be added into a weekly drawing for items like a T-shirt and cap. At the end of the month, all the tickets from September will be added to a grand prize drawing with three top winners. Prizes include a 52-inch TV, a cutting board and chef ’s knife.
The couple will also host a Business After Hours Mixer 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 at the restaurant, 4858 State Highway 154 south in Sulphur Springs.