DICKEY'S BARBECUE PIT
Want a true American meal? Dickey’s Barbecue Pit might be your best bet.
Founded in 1941, Travis Dickey was fresh from the war as a WWI veteran and opened the first Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Dallas. Other than the great food, Dickey was a true character with the gift of gab and a passion for real slow-smoked barbeque. The business was a family operation, with Dickey’s BBQ and Ollie Dickey’s sandwiches. Space on the restaurant sign was rented out to help cover costs and the menu featured options including brisket, pit hams, barbecue beans, potato chips, beer, bottled milk and sodas.
Eventually, it was taken over by brother Roland and T.D. Dickey in 1967. The business started franchising in 1994 and is now in more than 43 states with 530 locations and is also ranked as No. 101 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list.
