Recognizing the Jones Family

Floor Speech

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Mr. CRAWFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional family from my district. Since 1910, the Jones Family has owned and operated the award-winning and nationally recognized Jones BBQ restaurant in Marianna, Arkansas. Today, owner James H. Jones, the great-nephew of founder ``Uncle'' Joe Jones, continues to serve mouthwatering barbeque and a secret family barbeque sauce to customers who come from as far away as England, Germany, and even Yemen.

However, the secret to the success of Jones BBQ is in the simplicity. Mr. Jones, 4 times a week, places multiple pork shoulders on the grill in the back of the restaurant, leaving them to smoke for 10 to 12 hours. Then, he wakes up early the next morning to prepare them for customers and serves the barbeque until he sells out. If you do not get to Jones BBQ before noon, there is a good chance all the barbeque will be gone.

Jones BBQ is so beloved by customers, that in February 2021, when the back half of the restaurant burned down in a fire, the community rallied around Mr. Jones and raised over $100,000, allowing Jones BBQ to reopen by Memorial Day.

In 2012, Jones BBQ became the first restaurant in Arkansas to receive a prestigious James Beard Foundation Award. In 2017, Jones BBQ was recognized as an Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Award Winner and in 2020 was a People's Choice Nominee. Then recently, Jones BBQ found themselves on the New York Times favorite restaurant list for 2021.

Believed to be the first black-owned restaurant in the South, Jones BBQ is a staple of the First District of Arkansas. I encourage anyone passing through to stop by and give Jones BBQ's nationally acclaimed offerings a taste--they will not regret it.

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