Today we’d like to introduce you to Ethelia & Jeffrey Carr.
Hi Ethelia & Jeffrey , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Carr-B-Que’s is a prime example of a lifelong passion transforming into a dream career. Jeff and Ethelia were raised in kitchens filled with the warmth of family, friends, and the irresistible aroma of smoked meats. Jeff’s father was the go-to man for meal preparation at family gatherings, known for his skill with a smoker. Later, Jeff’s Uncle Charlie gained local fame for his Kentucky barbeque restaurant, “Miracle Ribs and Things.” And Ethelia where she worked growing up in SC in her Uncle “L.T.’s restaurant “Norris Drive Inn.” These two role models inspired Jeff to master the art of smoking meats—not just to achieve that unforgettable flavor, but to share it with others and spark the same joy that his uncle’s customers once felt.
In 2016 Jeffrey Carr owned a smoker and had a dream to one day own a BBQ restaurant. With his wife (Ethelia Carr), and pickup truck smoker on the weekends we would venture out to different location parking lots selling our food from off the truck, there my wife organized the bed of the truck for plates, napkins, utensils, and a cooler for drinks and her famous “E’s Heavenly Sweet Tea if needed for her homemade desserts, and for those that did not have money to purchase food we would bless them as well. God was making it happen summer and winter months with nothing but great tasting food and great customer service. The customers pulling up we would log their phone numbers and stated each week sending out text on where our locations would be. As business started to increase, we invested in a pull-out table and then few months later we purchase a tent.
We increased more locations and sometimes the code enforcement would arrive and inform us that we could not set-up in that area so we would move to a different location, faithful customers following us as we move to other locations, we stared to get catering orders from our customers, invites to other events, church functions, Car Shows, employee lunch appreciations, business was growing and flowing with a Pickup truck, table and tent. To God be the glory.
2020 COVID arrived which it slowed everything down, but we kept the faith and continued to do things to keep the business going with catering we applied for grants that was approved that helped us stay afloat, we also had a customer that wanted to invest into us they could see the dream as me any wife worked together serving the customers and the great food while we was out there in the streets that the investing idea was taken off the table and it ended up becoming a straight up BLESSING. NO ONE BUT GOD.
The name Carr-B-Que’s was inspired by a playful moment with Jeff’s nieces, who once requested to “put some of that Carr-B-Que’s sauce on my food.” This reference to the Carr couple making their own barbeque sauce inspired their new restaurant’s name, and ultimately, what began as a joke turned into a meaningful moniker that now represents more than just a restaurant—it’s become a household name today CARR B QUE’S. What sets Carr-B-Que’s apart from other barbeque spots is the authenticity and originality behind every bite. Each recipe—from the signature meat rubs to the sides—is Jeff’s own creation, making every dish both unique and personal. A visit to Carr-B-Que’s wouldn’t be complete without a glass of “E’s Heavenly Sweet Tea,” the perfect companion to any meal. And for dessert? Ethelia’s homemade Sweet Potato Pie, Pound Cake, and Peach Cobbler serve as the perfect sweet conclusion to a “smokilicious” experience.
2023 we found the perfect building for the BBQ restaurant, it was in the Stockbridge downtown area and it has historical roots it was Stockbridge’s jail years back and Martin Luther King Senior lived in the neighborhood. Before we rrived, it was a Chinese restaurant for over 30 years. It took us a year to get the building up to part to sell BBQ and we had some challenges along the way, a contractor swindle us out of 5,000 for a grease trap he never completed but by grace of God he kept the dream alive so here we are today servicing the community with the love and passion he has in stored in us with great tasting food.
While everything on the menu is crafted with care, Jeff insists that the brisket is the must-try item. “You have three options when trying the brisket,” he says. “One, you can chew it; two, not chew it; or three, you can take your teeth out to eat the brisket.” His personal go-to order, however, is the Beef Short Rib and Brunswick Stew a taste you will only experience at CARR B QUE’S.
If Carr-B-Que’s ever introduced a secret menu, the first item would be the “Sho Nuf Dog.” No further details are needed—you’ll just have to try it for yourself. “We bless our food, and we love serving people. One of our most memorable moments was when a family from Australia discovered Carr-B-Que’s through a Google search. “The eight-year-old said our barbeque was the best he’d ever tasted. That really warmed our hearts.” The past two years have brought immense joy and success we are just getting started. We are planning to open multiple locations in the coming years, we’re eager to share their flavorful food and heartfelt hospitality with even more people. Above all, “Carr-B-Que’s is what it is all because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For those craving a meal that’s both blessed and highly flavored head to Carr-B-Que’s at 102 M.L.K. Senior Heritage Trail, Stockbridge, GA 30281. Open Thursday through Saturday, from 12pm-UNTIL IT’S GONE.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
2023 we found the perfect building for the BBQ restaurant, it was in the Stockbridge downtown area and it has historical roots it was Stockbridge’s jail years back and Martin Luther King Senior lived in the neighborhood. Before we rrived, it was a Chinese restaurant for over 30 years. It took us a year to get the building up to part to sell BBQ and we had some challenges along the way, a contractor swindle us out of 5,000 for a grease trap he never completed but by grace of God he kept the dream alive so here we are today servicing the community with the love and passion he has in stored in us with great tasting food.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Family-owned and operated, Carr-B-Que’s redefines Ethelia Carr in June 2023, this Stockbridge gem was born out of a deep love for cooking, a passion for the art of smoking meat, what it means to be a barbeque restaurant. Founded by Jeff and and the encouragement of others who enjoyed their food.
Carr-B-Que’s is a prime example of a lifelong passion transforming into a dream career. Jeff and Ethelia were raised in kitchens filled with the warmth of family, friends, and the irresistible aroma of smoked meats. Jeff’s father was the go-to man for meal preparation at family gatherings, known for his skill with a smoker. Later, Jeff’s Uncle Charlie gained local fame for his Kentucky barbeque restaurant, “Miracle Ribs and Things.” And Ethelia where she worked growing up in SC in her Uncle “L.T.’s restaurant “Norris Drive Inn.” These two role models inspired Jeff &to master the art of smoking meats—not just to achieve that unforgettable flavor, but to share it with others and spark the same joy that his uncle’s customers once felt. The name Carr-B-Que’s was inspired by a playful moment with Jeff’s nieces who once requested to “put some of that Carr-B-Que’s sauce on my food.” This reference to the Carr couple making their own barbeque sauce inspired their new restaurant’s name, and ultimately, what began as a joke turned into a meaningful moniker that now represents more than just a restaurant—it’s become a household name CARR B QUE’S. What sets Carr-B-Que’s apart from other barbeque spots is the authenticity and originality behind every bite. Each recipe—from the signature meat rubs to the sides—is Jeff’s own creation, making every dish both unique and personal. A visit to Carr-B-Que’s wouldn’t be complete without a glass of “E’s Heavenly Sweet Tea,” the perfect companion to any meal. And for dessert? Ethelia’s homemade Sweet Potato Pie, Pound Cake, and Peach Cobbler serve as the perfect sweet conclusion to a “smokilicious” experience. While everything on the menu is crafted with care, Jeff insists that the brisket is the must-try item. “You have three options when trying the brisket,” he says. “One, you can chew it; two, not chew it; or three, you can take your teeth out to eat the brisket.” His personal go-to order, however, is the Beef Short Rib and Brunswick Stew a taste you will only experience at CARR B QUE’S. If Carr-B-Que’s ever introduced a secret menu, the first item would be the “Sho Nuf Dog.” No further details are needed—you’ll just have to try it for yourself. “We bless our food, and we love serving people,” Jeff and Ethelia say. One of their most memorable moments was when a family from Australia discovered Carr-B-Que’s through a Google search. “The eight-year-old said our barbeque was the best he’d ever tasted. That really warmed our hearts.” The past two years have brought immense joy and success, but the Carrs are just getting started. With plans to open multiple locations in the coming years, they’re eager to share their flavorful food and heartfelt hospitality with even more people. Above all, “Carr-B-Que’s is what it is all because of our Lord Jesus Christ,” For those craving a meal that’s both blessed and highly flavored head to Carr-B-Que’s at 102 M.L.K. Senior Heritage Trail, Stockbridge, GA 30281. Open Thursday through Saturday, from 12pm-UNTIL IT’S GONE.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Meat Smoking Bible book is really good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://CARRBQUES.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrbques
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Carrbques
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/carr-b-ques-stockbridge
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@carrbques
