Real Talk with Real Owners - Shawn Pace of Pendleton, OR

In the western town of Pendleton, OR, rodeo and barbecue go hand-in-hand. The Pendleton Round-Up hosts one of the largest rodeos in the world, and beyond the town lay farming communities. Slow-smoked barbecue is a perfect fit in this community.

Owner/Operator Shawn Pace began his career in barbecue when he had the opportunity to use a family-owned rental space. After searching for the perfect restaurant franchise, Shawn chose Dickey’s because they were growing at a rapid rate and had great support for its owner/operators.

“The best part about being in the barbecue business is all of the happy customers,” Shawn says. “I love that people want to come to our restaurant and love the experience they have.  The staff is like a big happy family and the customers are our guests.”

The small town community has been great for Shawn and his family. He is a part of multiple clubs and sponsor numerous events in the community. He has leveraged this community visibility into community marketing and catering opportunities. His catering sales have grown to 22.4% using these brand tools.