Dallas Barbecue Legend Celebrates 50 Years
Smokey John’s reflects on five decades of service and a century-old family recipe.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Barbecue
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The iconic Dallas establishment Smokey John’s marks its 50th anniversary in business this year. The barbecue institution remains a staple of the citys dining scene after half a century of operations.
Why it matters
The milestone highlights the enduring legacy of a family-run business that has maintained its community roots since its inception. It serves as a reminder of the long-term impact generational entrepreneurship has on the local food landscape.
Founded in 1976, the restaurant has reached its 50-year anniversary. The establishment also features a signature banana pudding recipe that has been in the family for more than 100 years.
The players
Smokey John Reaves
He is the founder of the Dallas barbecue restaurant that has become a local institution.
Juan Reaves
He is one of the brothers who currently manages the family concessionaire business.
Brent Reaves
He is one of the brothers who currently manages the family concessionaire business.
The details
Smokey John Reaves opened the original restaurant at the corner of Lemmon and Mockingbird, growing it into the oldest Black-owned concessionaire at the State Fair of Texas. Brothers Juan and Brent Reaves currently manage the business, frequently introducing inventive menu items like the Twinkle Twinkle Brisket Star.
Timeline
The family banana pudding recipe originated in the 1920s.
Smokey John Reaves founded the original restaurant in 1976.
The business celebrates its 50th anniversary in October 2026.
Culture Shift
This milestone aligns with the broader societal focus on supporting and preserving legacy Black-owned businesses in Dallas. It reflects a growing emphasis on protecting historical family-run culinary institutions against modern retail homogenization.
Residents can continue to support the long-standing institution during its ongoing operations at the State Fair of Texas. The family's commitment to business growth suggests that the iconic menu items will remain available for future patrons to experience.
The takeaway
Smokey John's journey emphasizes the value of maintaining family recipes and traditions over multiple generations. Supporting local legacy businesses helps preserve the unique cultural fabric of a community for years to come.
Further reading
For more on the city's culinary history, explore our Dallas Barbecue section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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