Buddy's bar-b-q
RestaurantsTennessee, United States51-200 Employees
Buddy's bar-b-q operates a regional restaurant chain focused on barbecue, offering smoked meats, a house-made sauce, and sides and desserts rooted in Southern favorites. The business traces its origins to 1966, when Buddy Smothers helped his wife LaMuriel launch what would become the Buddy's concept, and the first Buddy's-branded restaurant began in 1972 at 5806 Kingston Pike in West Knoxville—a site that has remained open for more than fifty years. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, the chain now serves multiple locations with a value-oriented approach, highlighted by weekly specials such as a Saturday rib option and a Tuesday dinner package that includes a meat choice, two sides, a beverage, and hushpuppies priced affordably. The restaurants emphasize a welcoming environment and traditional dishes, alongside occasional modern twists on American staples. The company has expanded to nineteen locations and has outlined continued growth. In 2024, Buddy's partnered with InnoVision Marketing Group to support a rebranding campaign and broader expansion across the southern United States.