Broadway, Beltline, and BBQ

The end of last week, we had 12 inches of snow here in the Dallas area so I had to take a couple of days off to play and just be still with the snow. But the snow has now melted and I am back stranger meeting and updates. So I am in my car heading really to nowhere when I turned onto Broadway in Garland and when I ended up in Balch Springs (which I had never been to before) and hadn't yet stopped, I decided to turn around and head back toward home. At the corner of Beltline and Davis, I got caught at the light and as I tried to figure out where the distinct smell of BBQ was coming from. You know the smell, when mesquite hangs in the air and all of a sudden you are hungry even though you just had lunch. Oooh, I love that smell. I turn toward the right, and the driver next to me just stares - nope - he is not BBQ. Back to my left was Mesquite BBQ and I knew I had to pop in. The light turns green; a quick maneuver to the left and I am making my way around old Mesquite Town Square back to the Mesquite BBQ. Pulling into the parking lot, I see the sign proclaiming Celebrating 50 years of business. The minute I walked in, I stepped back in time. A time when everyone who was anyone met at the local diner and hung out. Heads of animals line the wall and I find woman taking inventory of the rolled flatware. So I introduced myself, gave her my spiel and extended my hand. She did the same and I was shaking hands with Karen. I asked Karen if she was the owner or manager and she told me that me that she had been working there about 2 weeks and was the cashier. I asked if the Mesquite BBQ had been in the same location for the last 50 years and she turned and pointed to the Mesquite BBQ history board. It has only moved once and as far as I could tell it just moved down the block. It is still family owned and operated, albeit through marriage which I think is still a very cool thing to have a family owned and operated business in this day of multi-national corporations and big box stores. Hats off to you. I have to tell you that this place smelled great...did I already tell you that??? A few people were doing the sit-down-eat-inside, but it looked like they have a booming take-out business. I wished Karen a great day and she wished me luck in my stranger meetings. If I am ever back or if you are in their neck of the woods - stop in; pick up a pound or two of BBQ and tell Karen and the boys behind the counter that I said hi.