Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse Explained

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse
Type:Private
Foundation: in Dallas, Texas
Location City:Dallas, Texas
Area Served:Texas
Industry:Restaurant
Key People:Brent Harmon, President & CEO
Founder:William Jennings Bryan Jr.
Locations:3

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse is a well-known BBQ restaurant in Dallas, Texas that was founded by William Jennings Bryan Jr. (known as Sonny) in 1958 near the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.[1] [2] It has seven locations in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW) while closing all franchise units in Utah by mid-2014. Sonny Bryan's also has one of the largest catering companies in DFW.

History

The Bryan family has operated barbecue restaurants in the Dallas area for over a century. Sonny's grandfather, Elias Bryan, first opened his Bryan's Barbecue in 1910 while Sonny's father William Jennings "Red" Bryan opened Red Bryan's Smokehouse in 1930.[3] Sonny opened his Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse in 1958 and ran it until 1989 when he sold it to a group of Dallas investors.[4] [5] [6] [7] Bryan died from cancer just a few months after the sale.[8] [9]

While Bryan was alive, he had only maintain a single location and never franchised.[10] [11] Although the new management vowed to keep the original location the same, they started building additional locations.[12] The first new location opened in the West End in 1991.

Under the new management, Sonny Bryan's expanded, including new locations at Love Field in 2011,[13] one a major department store in a mall (1993-2011),[14] [15] plus three locations in Utah,[16] with the first Utah location opened in 2011.[17] [18] The current CEO is Brent Harmon.[19] At one point during the early 2010s, the company had as many as 10 locations in Texas[20] [21] plus 3-4 locations in Utah.[22] [23] By August 2014, locations in Texas were reduced to seven while all of the locations in Utah were closed.[24]

As of mid 2014, current locations in Texas include Inwood (original location), Richardson, West End, Las Colinas, Lovers Lane, Downtown (Dallas), and Fort Worth. Recently closed locations in Texas include Preston & Forest,[25] Macy’s Galleria, and Love Field. Former locations in Utah include Sandy, Foothill, Valley Fair, Cottonwood Heights, and Downtown (Salt Lake City).

To cater to workers on the late shift at the nearby hospitals, the original location switched to a 24 hours operations in May 2016 while the other locations maintained their regular schedules.[26]

As a result of the COVID19 pandemic, only three location survived by April 2021, the original location in Inwood, Lovers Lane, and Richardson.[27]

Distinguishing features

Some locations use old school desks as dining tables,[28] [29] which were first used by Sonny Bryan himself at the original location.[30]

Noted customers include Julia Child,[31] Lyndon Baines Johnson, Dean Fearing,[32] [33] Emeril Lagasse, Larry Hagman,[34] Jimmy Buffett,[35] King Khan and the Shrines,[36] and George W. Bush.[37]

Awards

The restaurant won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2000,[38] [39] a Best Barbecue Dallas award from the Dallas Observer in 2007,[40] and several Readers' Choice Best Barbecue Awards from D Magazine for 2010, 2011, and 2012[41] In 2015, the chain was declared as the fourth best southern barbeque by the readers of USA Today.[42] [43]

In the media

It has been featured in a Dallas-based episode of the Travel Channel show Man v. Food Nation, in 2011,[44] the Dallas episode of the Cooking Channel show The Originals with Emeril,[45] [46] the barbecue episode of the Food Network show Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels,[47] and the Travel Channel show 101 More Amazing Places to Chowdown, in 2014.[48] [49] It has been written about and favorably reviewed in Southern Living,[50] People (magazine),[51] the Los Angeles Times,[52] [53] the New York Times,[54] the Chicago Tribune,[55] the Houston Chronicle,[56] and culinary books by Jane and Michael Stern[57] [58]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Fire damages Dallas' original Sonny Bryan's barbecue restaurant on Inwood Road . . September 28, 2011 . Ashley . Withers.
  2. News: Dallas' Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse lights up the sunny side of the street . . January 24, 2014 . Gerald E. . McLeod.
  3. News: The king of Oak Cliff barbecue: Red Bryan's may be gone, but its mouthwatering legacy is not forgotten . Oak Cliff Advocate . January 23, 2012 . Gayla . Brooks.
  4. News: In Texas, Sonny Bryan's Barbecue Is Legend . . May 30, 1989 . 8C . Paul . Weingarten.
  5. News: If There's Barbecue Sauce On The Mercedes, This Must Be Sonny's . . May 10, 1989 . Paul . Weingarten.
  6. News: Investors Save BBQ Legend - Cancer sidelines restaurant founder . . February 19, 1989 . 33A . Home Final . Anne . Belli . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  7. News: Since 1958, Dallas Barbecue House Has Packed 'Em In and Stuffed 'Em . . May 21, 1989 . A/15 . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  8. News: What we learned about Sonny Bryan's BBQ while writing a bicycling story . Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate . February 28, 2012 . Christina Hughes . Babb.
  9. News: King of Texas barbecue, Sonny Bryan, dies at 63 . . December 24, 1989 . 21A . Home Final . Dan R. . Barber . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  10. News: Sonny Bryan's in the West End: still cookin' . . April 26, 1991 . 6 . Home Final . Waltrina . Stovall . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  11. News: Fired Up To Celebrate - Sonny Bryan's marks 35 years of barbecuing . . February 14, 1993 . 39A . Home Final . Enrique . Rangel . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  12. News: Almost the same old Sonny's . . April 5, 2002 . 15 . Second . Dotty . Griffith . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  13. News: Sonny Bryan's circling airport locations . . January 6, 2012 . Steven R. . Thompson.
  14. News: Sonny Bryan's BBQ goes posh at Macy's Galleria. (barbecue) . https://web.archive.org/web/20140322142725/http://business.highbeam.com/409700/article-1G1-14567675/sonny-bryan-bbq-goes-posh-macy-galleria . dead . March 22, 2014 . . October 25, 1993 . Ruggles . Ron.
  15. Web site: Sonny Bryan's Facebook Page . February 20, 2012 . . . Comment about closing of the Macy's Galleria location.
  16. News: Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse . . October 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140322145124/http://www.4utah.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Sonny-Bryans-Smokehouse/d/story/JRnwpzwbNkSgf_LolvIGaQ . 2014-03-22 . dead . .
  17. News: Some good 'Q' from Texas . . September 22, 2011 . Glen . Warchol.
  18. News: Sonny Bryan's opens in SLC . . January 10, 2012 . .
  19. News: Finger-lickin' good spot for barbecue . . October 31, 2004 . Sandra . Zaragoza.
  20. Web site: Locations in DFW . 2014-08-02 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20111205232853/http://www.sonnybryans.com/restaurants/restaurants-dfw.html . December 5, 2011 .
  21. Web site: Locations in DFW . 2014-08-02 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323113224/http://www.sonnybryans.com/restaurants/restaurants-dfw.html . March 23, 2012 .
  22. Web site: Locations in Utah . 2014-08-03 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120802092204/http://www.sonnybryans.com/restaurants/restaurants-utah.html . August 2, 2012 .
  23. Web site: Locations in Utah . 2014-08-03 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20140302040346/http://www.sonnybryans.com/restaurants/restaurants-utah.html . March 2, 2014 .
  24. Web site: Locations in DFW . 2014-08-02 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20140802024229/http://www.sonnybryans.com/restaurants/restaurants-dfw.html . August 2, 2014 .
  25. News: Bowery Opens, Screen Door Closes and More From a Very Busy July . . August 2, 2012 . .
  26. News: Show Me the BBQ! Original Sonny Bryan's Opening 24/7 . . April 27, 2016 . Eric . Gonzales.
  27. Web site: 14 of Dallas' oldest restaurants reveal how they survived the pandemic . CultureMap Dallas . April 22, 2021 . Teresa . Gubbins.
  28. News: An Englishman Reviews the Lunchtime BBQ of Sonny Bryan's, Pecan Lodge and Soulman's . . August 7, 2012 . Gavin . Cleaver.
  29. News: Dining Out in Dallas . . August 19, 1984 . 4E . Marian . Burros.
  30. News: Sonny Bryan's . . February 13, 1987 . 11 . Home Final . Dee . Lyons . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  31. News: New film sparks memories of Julia Child's time in Dallas . . August 7, 2009 . Gary . Cogill.
  32. News: OMG Hurry: Dean Fearing and Emeril Lagasse are at Sonny Bryan's . . February 3, 2011 . Nancy . Nichols.
  33. News: Dean Fearing . . December 8, 1985 . 1e . Home Final . Marty . Primeau . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  34. Book: The Barbecue America Cookbook: America's Best Recipes from Coast to Coast . Rick . Browne . Jack . Bettridge . amp . 2002 . 111 . 9781585746897 . Globe Pequot Press.
  35. News: Hagman playing the hero: Flying Buffett buffet . . February 16, 2001 . 33A . Third . Alan . Peppard . subscription. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  36. News: King Khan & The Shrines Write A Jingle For Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse . . April 8, 2010 . Pete . Freedman.
  37. News: President orders barbecue for trip back to Crawford . . March 29, 2002 . . .
  38. News: The Original Sonny Bryan's . . 2013-04-22 . .
  39. News: James Beard Awards Honor Best In Cooking . . May 10, 2000 . 1F . Final . Joe . Crea. Link via NewsBank.
  40. News: Best Barbecue Dallas 2007 - Original Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse . . 2007 . .
  41. Web site: Sonny Bryan's . . . .
  42. News: Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse is the fourth best southern BBQ according to USA Today readers . GuideLive . . May 29, 2015 . Britton . Peele.
  43. News: 10Best Readers' Choice: Best of the South winners announced! . . May 29, 2015 . .
  44. News: Man vs. Food Takes On Dallas on Wednesday . . August 15, 2011 . Joe . Tone.
  45. Web site: Lagasse hunts down restaurant 'Originals' . Robert . Philpot . May 25, 2011 . DFW.com.
  46. Dallas . The Original with Emeril . . CCORG-104H . . .
  47. Best Barbecue . . . RY0303 . . October 17, 2006.
  48. Web site: 101 More Amazing Places to Chowdown . . . .
  49. News: Travel Channel says Truck Yard and Sonny Bryan's in Dallas are "amazing" . . March 18, 2014 . Sarah . Blaskovich.
  50. News: The South's 20 Best BBQ Joints: Take a culinary trip around the South to discover our favorite stops for each BBQ style . . 2011.
  51. News: Searching for BBQ Bliss, the Pickings Are Easy . . August 28, 1989 . 32 . 9 . Alan . Richman.
  52. News: Dining Out in Dallas: Driving to the Best Barbecue Place . . November 15, 1987 . Paul . Lasley . Elizabeth . Harryman . amp.
  53. News: This Brisket's Smokin' . . February 25, 1998 . Steven . Raichlen . Steven Raichlen.
  54. News: And If You Want Texas Fare . . August 8, 1984 . Marian . Burros . Marian Burros.
  55. News: Smokin': Barbecue Makes Sonny Bryan's A Dallas Institution . . April 6, 1997 . Gary A. . Warner.
  56. News: Cook's Tour: A dining blog with Alison Cook . . May 30, 2006 . Alison . Cook.
  57. Book: Jane . Stern . Jane Stern . Michael . Stern . Jane and Michael Stern . amp . Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 800 of the Best Barbecue Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much, Much More . . 2011 . 465 . 9780307591258.
  58. Book: Jane . Stern . Jane Stern . Michael . Stern . Jane and Michael Stern . amp . 500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late: and the Very Best Places to Eat Them . . 2009 . 298 . 9780547416441.

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