Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises facts for kids

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is a popular restaurant chain. It started in San Antonio, Texas. This chain is famous for its delicious barbecue food. They also serve yummy side dishes like potato salad and coleslaw. Don't forget their tasty baked goods!

The restaurant began in 1950 with a small loan of $500. It was first a business selling poultry (like chickens) and eggs. In 1953, the founder, Bill Miller, opened a fried chicken take-out place. Later, it became the barbecue restaurant we know today.

Today, there are 76 Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurants. You can find them in San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi.

History of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q

How It All Started

William T. "Bill" Miller and Ila Faye Miller started their business in 1950. They began by delivering poultry and eggs. They used a $500 loan to get started.

In 1953, they opened their first restaurant. It was a take-out place that sold fried chicken. Over time, they added hamburgers to the menu. Eventually, the restaurant became known for its barbecue. The second Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurant opened in 1963.

A Family Business

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q has always been a family business. Ila Faye Miller worked as a cashier and hostess. She also raised their four children. The children grew up learning how the restaurant worked. They often helped out during summers and on weekends.

One of their sons, Balous Miller, was in college. He ran the restaurant during a summer when his dad was on vacation. After that, Balous decided to make the restaurant his career. He joined the business full-time after graduating in 1966.

His brothers, John and Douglas, also joined the business later. The three brothers and their brother-in-law, Louis Vance, have worked together for many years. This shows how important family is to the company.

A Special Street Name

In 1994, the street where the very first restaurant was located got a new name. It was changed from Offer Street to Bill Miller Lane. This was a special way to honor the restaurant's beginnings.

Ila Faye Miller passed away in 2008. Her contributions were a big part of the company's success.

How Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Works

Serving Food Fast

In the early 1950s, Bill Miller Bar-B-Q was one of the first places to offer good food quickly. You could get quality food to go in about five minutes. This was very new and exciting back then!

Their idea was unique. They would cook barbecue meats and bake fresh pies and breads every day. All of this was done in a central kitchen called a commissary. Then, the food was sent out to all the restaurants.

Special Barbecue Pits

Bill Miller himself designed the first barbecue pits. These were used in the 1950s. Today, they use much larger pits. These huge pits can cook up to 2,500 pounds of brisket at once! It takes about 18 to 20 hours to cook the meat perfectly.

Behind the Scenes

The main office for Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is in downtown San Antonio. They have a large plant where they prepare a lot of their food. This plant follows strict rules for cleanliness and safety.

The company owns all of its restaurant buildings and land. They also have their own distribution center. This means they handle everything themselves, from cooking to delivering food to their restaurants.