[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 186 (Friday, October 30, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING DRAKE'S BBQ

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                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 30, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable establishment, Drake's BBQ.
  It all started with one man and a vision. Mr. Kendrell Drake always 
loved cooking and grilling. His wife, Mrs. Shulundia Drake, recalls, 
``We would always have cookouts at our house every weekend and invite 
friends and family over.'' One day, Mr. Drake said, ``I wonder would my 
friends buy my barbecue if I started selling it.'' Mrs. Drake remembers 
saying to him, ``Sure they would.''
  About a year later, they began their barbecue journey. It started 
with their family; Mr. & Mrs. Drake and their three daughters; Sekayi, 
Khamya and Kendall. It was late summer 2014 when they started selling 
barbecue from a trailer Mr. Drake built. Mrs. Drake was right by his 
side on those hot days, standing next to a big grill waiting and 
serving customers.
  They were both employed full time at the time of their venture. He 
was employed with Frito Lay and she was employed with Greenwood Leflore 
Hospital. On his off days, which were Wednesdays and Saturdays, he 
would pull the trailer on the side of Highway 82 and wait on customers 
to arrive. By the time Mrs. Drake would arrive, around 11:15, they 
would have a line of customers.
  They worked in the heat, rain, and freezing cold weather. And you 
wouldn't believe how people would come out in that type of weather for 
Drake's barbecue. That made them realize that a physical location was 
needed.
  Four years later, they are now located inside the Village Shopping 
Center at 1904 A Leflore Avenue in Greenwood, Mississippi. They've been 
at this location for about four years now. They have been nominated as 
one of the Top 10 Places to Work, Top 30 under 40 by the Greenwood 
Chamber of Commerce and received the Greenwood Commonwealth People's 
Choice Best Barbecue Award 3 years in a row since 2018.
  The Drake's credit to their success to the loyalty of their 
customers. Every year in September, Drake's BBQ holds a customer 
appreciation day. They give away around 400 to 500 plates to the 
customers to show how much they appreciate their continuous support. 
``After all, they're the ones who keep us going,'' states Mrs. Drake.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Drake's BBQ 
for their service and commitment to the community.

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