Sonny's BBQ facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Genre | Restaurants |
| Founded | April 17, 1968 |
| Founder | Floyd 'Sonny' Tillman |
| Headquarters | , |
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Number of locations
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113 |
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Area served
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Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee |
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Key people
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Sonny Tillman, Jamie Yarmuth |
| Owner | Bob Yarmuth |
Sonny's BBQ is a popular restaurant chain that serves delicious barbecue food. It was started by a man named Floyd "Sonny" Tillman in Gainesville, Florida, way back in 1968. Today, the company is owned by Bob Yarmuth and has many restaurants across the southeastern United States. Sonny's BBQ is known for its tasty Southern-style barbecue dishes.
The Story of Sonny's BBQ
Sonny's Real Pit-Bar-B-Q opened its first restaurant on April 17, 1968. Floyd "Sonny" Tillman and his wife Lucille started it in Gainesville, Florida. It began as just one small place.
Nine years later, in 1977, Sonny's started to grow. They began "franchising," which means other people could open their own Sonny's restaurants. These new restaurants would use Sonny's recipes and name. The menu included popular items like pork, beef, ribs, and chicken.
By 1988, Sonny's BBQ had grown quite a bit. There were 77 restaurants across six different states. At this time, Sonny Tillman decided to sell the company to a group of investors. Later, in 1991, Bob Yarmuth bought the company. He is still the owner and CEO today.
Changes and Growth
In the 2000s, Sonny's BBQ became the largest barbecue restaurant chain in the United States. They had about 150 locations in nine states. By 2011, there were 125 franchised restaurants still operating.
In 2012, the company moved its main office to Winter Park, Florida. A year later, in 2013, the company changed its name. It went from "Sonny's Real Pit-Bar-B-Q" to the simpler "Sonny's BBQ."
Facing Challenges
Around 2008, some Sonny's BBQ restaurants faced tough times. A few locations in the Atlanta area and in Daytona Beach, Florida, had to close. This was a challenging period for many businesses. However, the company worked through these difficulties.
Even after selling the company, Sonny Tillman remained a special part of Sonny's BBQ. His birthday, August 14, is celebrated by the restaurants. He would often attend new restaurant openings and even appear in commercials.
Sonny's BBQ also likes to give back to communities. They have "Random Acts of BBQ" events. During these events, restaurants provide free barbecue meals to community volunteers and groups. Since 2016, October 12 has been celebrated as National Pulled Pork Day at all Sonny's locations.
What's on the Menu?
Sonny's BBQ serves many delicious Southern-style barbecue dishes. You can find items like pulled pork, sliced pork, and different kinds of ribs. They also offer beef brisket, buffalo wings, and burgers. Plus, there are many tasty appetizers and side dishes to choose from.
See also
- List of barbecue restaurants
