The Saturday before Labor Day in 1977, Jim Goode wandered into a failing neighborhood barbeque joint to have a late lunch. He struck up a conversation with the owner and mentioned in passing that he might like to have his own restaurant someday. Before he left, he'd made a deal to buy the place, and the original Goode Company Barbeque opened on Kirby Drive a few days later.
Early on, it was just Jim, his wife Liz, his uncle Joe Dixie and a handful of employees that they had inherited from the previous owner. It was hard work. Most nights, Jim and Joe Dixie slept at the restaurant, waking up every hour throughout the night to check the brisket. One slept inside, one outside, and they kept a shotgun nearby to protect the meat, the equipment and themselves, in that order.
From the very beginning, they were committed to producing the best barbeque in town. They agreed that success was a simple matter of doing things the "right way." Even if it was harder and took a little longer, it was worth the effort. Over the years, Goode Company Barbeque has developed quite a reputation around town. It's honest food prepared the "right way" - by hand, using time-tested recipes and the best ingredients.