Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q
Decatur, GA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
If you see a crowd gathered around a barbecue joint in Decatur, there's a good chance you've found Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q. The famous roadside sign featuring Big Bob himself lets you know you're in the right place, and the long line out front is usually another pretty good clue. 06-06
Big Bob Gibson opened in 1925, when railroad worker Bob Gibson began smoking meat in a backyard pit. A century later, the restaurant is still drawing hungry travelers with hickory-smoked barbecue, ribs, pork, and the legendary Alabama white sauce that was created here for smoked chicken. It's one of those places that barbecue fans seem to seek out no matter how far off their route it may be.
If you're passing through north Alabama, don't be surprised if you have to wait a few minutes for a table. Judging by the crowd, plenty of folks think it's worth it.
UPDATE: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025 and continues serving customers at its Decatur, Alabama locations. 08-26
Andrew's Bar-B-Q (Gone)
Birmingham, AL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Cruising along First Avenue, it would have been hard to miss the glowing neon pig outside Andrew's Bar-B-Q. The big roadside marquee advertised barbecue, air conditioning, and just about everything a hungry motorist might have wanted to hear on a hot Alabama day. 06-06
Andrew's opened in the 1940s and became a longtime neighborhood favorite, serving barbecue along with hearty Southern plates that reflected the Greek roots of its owners. The restaurant had the kind of comfortable, no-frills atmosphere that kept generations of Birmingham families coming back, while the neon sign became a familiar landmark for anyone passing through East Lake.
The pig on the marquee was reason enough to pull over for a closer look. Once the sign caught your eye, chances were you'd end up staying for a plate of barbecue.
UPDATE: Andrew's Bar-B-Q closed around 2007, and the classic neon pig sign has since been removed. 08-26
Little Pigs Bar-B-Q (Gone)
Memphis, TN Photo courtesy Sherry McGee
This Little Pigs sign painted on the outside brick wall where they used to smoke the BBQ. Located on the "Highland Strip" in the University area of Memphis. I was very lucky on this one. The very day that I got a whim to drive over there and snap a photo, there were workmen on the site ready to gut the inside of the building and paint over the brick. They graciously waited while I took my photos. Little Pigs had been around since 1942. Many thanks to Sherry McGee for info. 07-06
If you were cruising down Highland Street near Memphis State, there was a good chance you'd spot the cheerful pig characters before you smelled the barbecue. Little Pigs Bar-B-Q had one of those classic roadside signs that looked like it belonged on every family road trip, making it tough to drive by without wondering what was cooking inside.
The restaurant became a favorite with University of Memphis students and neighborhood regulars, serving barbecue from a modest little building that was never much bigger than it needed to be. A handful of tables, a busy counter, and plenty of smoky barbecue were enough to keep people coming back. Even after the Little Pigs franchise company collapsed in the 1960s, this location carried on for years under local ownership.
UPDATE: The Highland Street Little Pigs Bar-B-Q has long since closed, and both the building and its familiar roadside sign are gone. 08-26
Moonlite Bar-B-Q
Owensboro, KY Photo courtesy Sol Bermann
The Moonlite Bar-B-Q features perhaps the best BBQ in the country, certainly one of the few that specializes in BBQ mutton. The Moonlite is located in Owensboro, KY. Many thanks to Sol Bermann for info. 08-06
What began as a small barbecue stand has grown into a favorite stop for locals and visitors alike. Moonlite is especially known for western Kentucky specialties like hickory-smoked mutton and burgoo, making it a popular stop if you're looking to try something a little different.
UPDATE: Moonlite Bar-B-Q remains open, and the classic crescent moon sign still lights the way for hungry travelers. 08-26
Shell's Bar-B-Q has been a Hickory, NC institution since the 1950's and is still going strong. Many thanks to Doug Harvey for info. 08-06
Driving along Springs Road, it was hard not to notice Shell's Bar-B-Q. The familiar roadside sign had been welcoming hungry travelers for decades, making it one of those places that seemed to belong right where it was. Whether you were a Hickory local or just passing through town, Shell's always looked like a good excuse to pull over. 08-06
Shell's traced its roots back to 1952 and became a longtime favorite for chopped barbecue, livermush sandwiches, and its famous cherry-vanilla Sundrop slushies. The restaurant even got a new home in the early 2000s when a vintage diner once owned by NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett was moved onto the property, giving the old roadside stop a fresh look while keeping its classic character.
For generations, families made Shell's part of their routine, whether it was lunch after church, dinner on the way home, or a quick barbecue sandwich before getting back on the road. It was the kind of place that never seemed to be in a hurry, and that's probably why so many people remember it.
UPDATE: Shell's Bar-B-Q closed on August 22, 2020, after 67 years in business. The restaurant was later demolished, and the familiar roadside sign disappeared when the property was redeveloped. 08-26
Maryland Fried Chicken
Albany, GA Photo courtesy Lisa Pike
This is a longtime Maryland Fried Chicken location on N. Slappey Blvd in Albany, GA. The current owner has decked the place inside and out in a "hippy" fashion. We have 3 Maryland chains in Albany, but this one is very unique. Many thanks to Lisa Pike for info. 09-06
Cruising up North Slappey Boulevard, the vintage sign at Maryland Fried Chicken is enough to make you take a second look. Between the familiar script lettering and the restaurant's unusual mid-century building, this is one of those classic roadside stops that looks like it belongs in another era. 08-06
This Albany location opened in 1968 and has stayed in the same family ever since. Despite the name, Maryland Fried Chicken actually got its start in Orlando, Florida, and became a popular Southern chain with locations scattered across the Southeast. Albany once had three of them, but this is the one that's still serving customers today.
Maryland Fried Chicken
Albany ,GA Photo courtesy Lisa Pike
The building is just as memorable as the sign, with its quirky architecture and retro personality making it a favorite for roadside photographers. Sometimes a place catches your eye long before you ever see the menu.
UPDATE: Maryland Fried Chicken remains open, and the classic roadside sign continues welcoming travelers along North Slappey Boulevard. 08-26
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q
Andrew's Bar-B-Q (Gone)
Little Pigs Bar-B-Q (Gone)
Moonlite Bar-B-Q
