From firefighter's passion to community tradition - the story of J.R.'s Rib Shack
JR's Rib Shack first opened its doors on March 1, 1996, but the story started long before that. My dad spent ten years as a firefighter, and one of his favorite things was cooking BBQ for his fellow firefighters.
One day while driving through Lynn Haven, he spotted a building for lease and thought, "That would make a great BBQ spot." Six months later, JR's Rib Shack was born.
Back then Lynn Haven was small, with only a handful of restaurants in town. On opening night, the line was out the door and stretched a block long.
Friends, family, and firefighters were among the first in line, and the place stayed packed for hours. From that moment on, the Shack became part of the community.
The menu hasn't changed since day one—if it's not broken, don't fix it. We cook our meats fresh for lunch and fresh again for dinner so it's never dried out, and every side is made from scratch.
Over the years, we've built a reputation for having some of the best BBQ around, a signature Brunswick stew, and collard greens that people say are the best in the South.
Of course, it hasn't always been easy. We've faced fires, closed a location after the 2007 stock market crash, and even had to shut down the Lynn Haven building in 2016 because the owners wouldn't renovate it.
But through every challenge, faith, family, and the support of our community have carried us forward.
Today, JR's Rib Shack is still family-run, and I'm proud to carry on what my dad started. He always says if he had to describe the restaurant in one sentence, it would be: "Family and delicious."
That's the tradition we're keeping alive—fresh BBQ, homemade sides, and a place where everyone feels at home.