Photo by Katherine Polcari.
Andrew Jernigan, manger of the Chelsea location, with a heaping plate of wings.
Wooden paneling, comfortable booths, clean floors and great food are not what usually come to mind when you think of a gas station restaurant, yet Good Ole Boys BBQ works to accomplish all of this with an added touch of personable customer service.
This past March, the restaurant’s newest branch opened in Chelsea. Andrew Jernigan, brother-in-law of founder Kenny Boggan, has taken on the position of manager.
“This is my family’s business,” Jernigan said. “Kenny Boggan and his son Daniel started it, so it’s their heritage.”
By having a family run the restaurants, Good Ole Boys BBQ has a homey, feel-good atmosphere. In the Chelsea location in particular, Jernigan said he works to accomplish this by putting as much effort into the quality of his food as he does with customer relations.
“It’s so much fun, seeing the folks happy with good food and taking care of them,” Jernigan said. “That’s what Kenny has instilled in all of us.”
Jernigan said it is common for him to be able to shout a customer’s order back to the kitchen well before he or she can even reach the front counter. Even if first-timers come in, Jernigan makes the effort to treat them as family.
“The best moment is seeing all of the kids from little league baseball that have been in here with their parents,” Jernigan said. “It always makes me smile when I see this place full of families with kids.”
Jernigan said that achieving a family atmosphere was not difficult, seeing as the restaurant was in Chelsea, which he already sees as a family town. Although he is not a Chelsea resident, Jernigan and his family live nearby in Inverness and have had no problem becoming acquainted with the Chelsea community.
Good Ole Boys BBQ has also been tied to Chelsea for years through catering events and fundraisers for local high schools and churches, which has made this new opening a great addition to the area and to the company, Jernigan said.
“We have wanted to have a restaurant here for quite some time,” Jernigan said. “The spot became open, and we were blessed to be able to grab the spot.”
Even with opening in such a welcoming community, Jernigan has noticed one small setback.
“One challenge is the stigma of [being] in a gas station,” Jernigan said. “Folks kind of expect that because it’s a gas station that it’s a fast food place.”
However, this is not the case. Jernigan explained that the food is made to order. Rather than fast food, the term “casual family” better represents the dining experience. The food is cooked well and is served with Good Ole Boys’ award-winning sauce. And not only is it good food, but there is lots of it.
“We give large portions, more than folks can usually eat,” Jernigan said. “The family really just loves to see people happy [and] getting fed great food.”
Good Ole Boys BBQ
WHERE: Inside the Marathon gas station, 16634 U.S. 280, Chelsea
WEB: goodolebbq.com
