New restaurant Billie Rae's BBQ continues legacy of Black pit masters in Knoxville
When Eugene and Patrice Chandler first crossed paths at Vine Middle School, they never imagined that decades after their first kiss they would reunite, get married and open up a restaurant in the same neighborhood where they grew up.
Billie Rae’s BBQ and Soul Food, nestled in the heart of East Knoxville, represents the culmination of Eugene's years spent mastering the art of the smoke pit and honors his mother's unfulfilled dream.
“Bille Rae Chandler, that was my mom, and she was a great cook. She would always tell me how she wanted to have her own restaurant one day so she could make chili. She wanted to call it Billie’s Chili," Eugene said. “ I said, 'Momma, you can have that one day if you put your mind to it,' but she passed away in 2008. So I took it upon myself, me and my wife, to carry out her legacy and make sure it happened.”
Billie Rae’s BBQ opened in early April at 1920 E. Magnolia Ave.
A 1992 graduate of Austin East High School and a lifelong resident of East Knoxville, Patrice sees the restaurant as a chance to stand by her husband and explore a fresh endeavor outside the classroom. After finishing her teaching duties at Whittle Springs Middle School each day, she heads to the restaurant. Juggling two jobs is demanding, but the satisfaction lies in serving her community and supporting Eugene.
“I remember my mom working double shifts at St. Mary’s Hospital when I was little to help my father start a company. And I worked with my dad growing up. I wanted to do the same thing for my husband,” she said.
Patrice comes from a family of successful business owners. Her father, Don Deathridge, started East Tennessee Mechanical Contractors before he died at the age of 44. Her uncle, Mark Deathridge, eventually took over the company and it operates today as one of the most successful Black-owned businesses in the city. Prior to becoming a teacher, Patrice worked there for more than 20 years.
“I think it gave me good knowledge and insight to watch my dad run a company and see all that he had to go through. And then to work along with my uncle once he took over the business gave me a foundation,” said Patrice.
The Chandlers find their daily inspiration in feedback from customers, whether it’s a firefighter crew, kids after school or professionals on their lunch hour. In African American culture, enjoying BBQ and indulging in soul food is about coming together. It’s more than just the flavor. It's the satisfaction in the smiles. And if you’ve a touch of "the itis" when good food puts you to sleep, you know the food was worth the wait.
Billie Rae’s is the only Black-owned brick and mortar BBQ restaurant on Magnolia, and one of few in the city.
Eugene became interested in the food business when he began learning how to smoke barbecue 20 years ago.
“I like the challenge of being a pitmaster. It’s a different level. People always tell me, 'I can grill, I can grill,' but I tell them grilling and smokin’ is two different worlds," he said. "It takes time and effort. When you’re behind that pit you gotta make sure everything from the temperature to the smoke is just right."
Billie Rae's continues long legacy of Black-owned BBQ in Knoxville
When Eugene got a call from a friend about the available space on Magnolia, complete with a smoke pit, it felt like a dream come true. The iconic Scrugg’s BBQ, a longstanding Black-owned restaurant, operated there for over 25 years before its closure more than a decade ago.
Patrice believes the location falling into their lap was destiny.
The Chandlers came up during a time when Black-owned BBQ spots like Scruggs BBQ in East Knoxville and Brothers Johnson and Sisters BBQ in Mechanicsville were mere blocks away.
“It’s such a small world. Mr. Roberts who owned Scruggs BBQ taught Eugene at Vine Middle School and he operated out of this building, and then Mr. Scruggs himself also ran his business out of here. He was also a BBQ man. So here we are following in those footsteps right here in this same building,” Patrice said.
Like numerous Black proprietors, they found starting the business wasn't without hurdles. While finding a location can be straightforward, the real challenge lies in getting it up and running. Patrice said there's a scarcity of resources in the community to guide aspiring business owners through the intricacies and dos and don'ts of entrepreneurship.
“There’s a lot of red tape. There were nights I spent here in tears. We got everything ready to go, and found out we couldn’t just open. Between electrical, plumbing and the architectural engineering, that was the hardest part.”
There's no system to guide people through the specific steps of launching a restaurant, she said.
“We didn’t have a mentor to show us what to do. We learned as we went along, and I think that is the case for a lot of Black business owners who aspire to open up their own businesses. We have the talent, but what devastates our community is the lack of resources,” she told Knox News.
Good ole' BBQ, chili dogs and Soul Food Sunday
Billie Rae's boasts a menu brimming with freshly smoked barbecue straight from the pit daily. Among their top sellers are ribs, brisket, wings and chili dogs, with other options like pulled pork and chicken quarters also on the menu. Each entrée comes with side options, including smoked macaroni and cheese, baked beans, green beans, coleslaw, fries and potato salad.
On Sundays, the restaurant serves soul food options, a hallmark of African American cuisine. "Our smoked meatloaf and stuffed turkey legs bring people in on Sundays," Patrice told Knox News. "Collard greens, sweet potatoes, and fried cabbage are also part of our Soul Food Sunday menu."
In June, Billie Rae's will introduce online and call-ahead ordering, with delivery service in the works. Operating hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Catering service for large orders and special occasions is available. The restaurant can be reached at 865-444-1160.
Angela Dennis is the Knox News race, justice and equity reporter. Email angela.dennis@knoxnews.com. Twitter @AngeladWrites. Instagram @angeladenniswrites. Facebook at Angela Dennis Journalist.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: New restaurant Billie Rae's BBQ continues legacy of Black pit masters in Knoxville
