I hoped to by no means have to jot down this story, however there’s a completely satisfied ending.
Are you able to keep in mind the highest two songs of 1982? “Let’s Get Bodily” (the Olivia Newton-John traditional that some radio stations banned) and “Eye Of The Tiger.
That was additionally the yr that Anne and Mike Armstrong took over Roy’s Hickory Pit BBQ eight years after the unique “Roy” acquired began.
Now, Roy’s, winner of state and nationwide awards for its distinctive sauce and meats — a tiny constructing most would not cease at except you knew their nationwide status — has been bought.
The excellent news is Roy’s will proceed delighting rib, beef, pork, scorching hyperlinks, turkey and ham lovers below the brand new possession of one other native household identified for preserving one other historic native restaurant and serving up memorable meals in a novel environment.
Kirk and Julia Johnson purchased R-B Drive In in 2016, but it surely’s been round since 1948. They may take over possession of Roy’s on July 2.
Now not will Anne be greeting clients and taking their cash, nor will member of the family Ryan Cullum be serving up meat behind the grill. The torch is about to be handed to a fantastic household, says Anne’s daughter who additionally labored there for years.
In transition coaching not too long ago at Roy’s, the Johnsons promise “a steadfast dedication to high quality, worth, expertise and household.”
There’s little doubt that can occur, however the real homespun hospitality and private greetings from Anne, grasp chief Ryan, different staffers and Mike Armstrong’s regular steerage till his premature most cancers loss of life in 2007 can be inconceivable to duplicate.
Roy’s Bar B Q has made it via a close to disastrous hearth, COVID closures, well being challenges and skyrocketing inflation — opening at 11 a.m. “until the meals runs out,” often solely about three hours.
Uncountable clients have been made completely satisfied, together with quite a few out-of-state visitors, comparable to complete basketball groups and motorbike golf equipment who drive miles to eat in that “little yellow constructing” on Hutchinson’s west aspect.
Stroll inside and you will find a big roundtable and sparse seating, together with a dish-it-up your self salad bar. Stroll out, and you will have enough barbecue smoke that assures everybody is aware of the place you ate lunch.
As a radio man, I satisfied Anne to begin promoting with a trade-out through which they acquired free commercials, and the station did not must pay when internet hosting purchasers at Roy’s. By no means instructed her we misplaced depend after $367,000 in new enterprise got here from individuals so enthralled with consuming at Roy’s that they simply agreed to purchase adverts.
Hutchinson simply will not be the identical with out Anne and Ryan behind the counter, however neither will seventh and Foremost with out Harley’s Bicycle Store that is shifting downtown; Alexanders’ Jewelers that is going out of enterprise together with different native comings and goings.
No less than we nonetheless have Taco Hut on East thirtieth that was not too long ago acquired by Bogey’s proprietor Tyler Davis; Paul Foster and his nice individuals with the city’s greatest buffet (since 1978) at Ken’s Pizza; the Sleep Shoppe anchoring and supporting downtown companies; and one domestically owned financial institution that continues to be a steading rock, First Nationwide.
With the ability to efficiently stroll the small, domestically owned enterprise line for 42 years, greater than 4 many years, is sort of an accomplishment for Roy’s Bar B Q, and conserving it open is heartening.
It is another excuse to emphasize native possession for the nice of Hutchinson and most different small cities.
Finest needs for a protracted and completely satisfied retirement, Anne, and the town of Hutchinson can be higher off with an individual like Ryan.
Dan Deming, former common supervisor of Hutchinson radio station KWBW and former Reno County commissioner, may be reached at 620-960-6733 or [email protected].