Barry and Becky Brown, 1980. Photo courtesy of Becky Brown.
Editor’s note: Barry and Becky Brown saw the Advocate‘s story about plans for the Barbec’s site, a Garland Road restaurant they founded. They sent us a letter in response, which we have decided to publish. Read it below.
The article about Popeyes taking the Barbec space was a sad read. Not the fact that a new business was opening … but another chicken franchise with a drive-thru in an already congested location.
What a wasted opportunity to put a more local business in that location. We have lived in the White Rock Lake area for 45 years and have always loved the “small town” feel. We built a business on knowing our customers and having the regular’s order ready sometimes before they even sat down! We attended graduations, weddings and funerals. Some of our best employees were the local high school students. They were polite and really hustled during our line-around-the-corner weekends.
Even now, we continue to see and greet longtime customers. It was a true community.
I know we can’t stop progress. The owner of the building is not local and, of course, is motivated by math. But if we could just keep more of a neighborhood feel! The massive, cookie-cutter buildings, the franchises found on every major intersection, the immense amount of NEW traffic that is requiring more and more traffic lights is gut-wrenching.
We have the beautiful lake with trails. We have the Dallas Arboretum. We have some wonderful mom-and-pop coffee shops and restaurants. Yes, there will always be franchises. But putting a Popeyes drive-thru in at 8949 Garland Road will be not only an eyesore but a traffic nightmare even with the new stop light.
Probably can’t stop the gentrification of our lovely neighborhood, but wanted to let our longtime customers and friends know that we loved our time with you when we were the ones hustling your beer biscuits.
— Barry and Becky Brown
Original owners of Barbec’s RestaurantÂ
