Food For Thought: Ashley's Bar-B-Que

“The best memories I have are of my father
doing a big cookout with family
and friends between Memorial Day and
the 4th of July. Back then, there were
all different colors together, eating
barbecue, having a good time, just
eating and drinking.

I’ve been doing this for over a
decade. My dad did it since the
’60s. This is one thing I can say:
even in a place like 15th and
Center, white, black, Chinese –
everybody comes to eat barbecue.
People don’t care about ‘the ‘hood.’
They just want good food. We treat
people how we want to be treated. I
go out of the way for my customers;
I expect my employees to do the
same. We talk, we have a good time.
It’s just about people. Nobody feels one
way or another. Everybody can sit
down and eat. And this is the blessing.
It’s what makes this place great: diversity.”

– Darnell Ashley, owner, Ashley’s Bar-B-Que and Ashley’s Que