[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 70 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING THE JONES FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ERIC A. ``RICK'' CRAWFORD

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

  Mr. CRAWFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exceptional 
family from my district. Since 1910, the Jones Family has owned and 
operated the award-winning and nationally recognized Jones BBQ 
restaurant in Marianna, Arkansas. Today, owner James H. Jones, the 
great-nephew of founder ``Uncle'' Joe Jones, continues to serve 
mouthwatering barbeque and a secret family barbeque sauce to customers 
who come from as far away as England, Germany, and even Yemen.
  However, the secret to the success of Jones BBQ is in the simplicity. 
Mr. Jones, 4 times a week, places multiple pork shoulders on the grill 
in the back of the restaurant, leaving them to smoke for 10 to 12 
hours. Then, he wakes up early the next morning to prepare them for 
customers and serves the barbeque until he sells out. If you do not get 
to Jones BBQ before noon, there is a good chance all the barbeque will 
be gone.
  Jones BBQ is so beloved by customers, that in February 2021, when the 
back half of the restaurant burned down in a fire, the community 
rallied around Mr. Jones and raised over $100,000, allowing Jones BBQ 
to reopen by Memorial Day.
  In 2012, Jones BBQ became the first restaurant in Arkansas to receive 
a prestigious James Beard Foundation Award. In 2017, Jones BBQ was 
recognized as an Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Award Winner and in 2020 
was a People's Choice Nominee. Then recently, Jones BBQ found 
themselves on the New York Times favorite restaurant list for 2021.
  Believed to be the first black-owned restaurant in the South, Jones 
BBQ is a staple of the First District of Arkansas. I encourage anyone 
passing through to stop by and give Jones BBQ's nationally acclaimed 
offerings a taste--they will not regret it.

                          ____________________