[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 133 (Thursday, July 29, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E841-E842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF GARY'S BAR-B-CUE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED BUDD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2021

  Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the time-tested 
excellence of Gary's Bar-B-Cue, a local favorite and culinary staple of 
the town of China Grove.
  The North Carolina barbecue place, owned and operated by Gary 
Ritchie, celebrated 50 years of business on April 21, 2021. The 
restaurant's popularity and longevity can largely be attributed to 
Gary's principled commitment to ``Good food, good service, and a clean 
restaurant,'' Gary's Bar-B-Cue epitomizes the core American values of 
hard work, determination, and generosity that fuel small business 
success and turn paying customers into lifelong friends.
  Like many business owners, Gary Ritchie's start in the barbecue 
business began before he opened his own shop. After six years of 
working in curb service at Johnson's Barbecue, Gary converted a former 
Gulf Oil service station into his own restaurant, eventually expanding 
the venue's capacity three times. Gary's Bar-B-Cue now accommodates up 
to 216 diners. The building's seating expansion testifies not only to 
business success, but to Gary's aim to make everyone feel at home in 
his restaurant.
  Gary's is a family business--but not just because Gary and Sylvia 
Ritchie married the

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year before they opened the restaurant. While the Ritchies have worked 
together throughout their restaurant's tenure, Gary and his staff make 
a point of treating every customer like kin, and many customers keep 
coming back because of the friendly service. Some might even say that 
Gary's barbecue dip is the only sauce around that runs thicker than 
blood.
  For Gary, his family, and staff, the business was never merely about 
turning a profit. Over the decades, Gary's has become much more than 
just a restaurant serving up delicious southern food and barbecue. The 
China Grove establishment regularly hosts community organizations and 
groups that come for a good meal--yes--but foremost to belong Through 
it all, Gary seems to have had his sights set on something loftier than 
pulled pork-namely, making every diner in his restaurant feel known and 
respected, regardless of where they come from, the clothes on their 
back, or even their political affiliation.
  In a culture of heightened fear, animosity, and division, perhaps we 
could learn a thing or two from the slow-cooked wisdom of Gary Ritchie: 
``The easiest thing in the world is to be nice to people. It don't cost 
you nothing.'' Please join me in celebrating the enduring success of 
Gary Ritchie and Gary's Bar-B-Cue.

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