About Smokey John's Bar-B-Que
& Home Cooking
MEET THE FAMILY
Meet our founder: “Smokey” John Reaves.
(We call him Dad.)
He first opened our doors for business in 1976 in Dallas, Texas. Back then, we were known as Big John’s, located on the corner of Lemmon and Mockingbird. But one day, the pit inside the restaurant caught on fire. Although there was no damage, the restaurant was filled with a thick cloud of smoke. When one of our regulars came in and saw the smoke-filled room, he said, “Y’all should call this place Smokey John’s instead of Big John’s!” And just like that, Dad changed the restaurant’s name to Smokey John’s. Our hickory smoke became the signature of the neighborhood, enticing customers from around Texas to stop by and experience our delicious home cooking.
In addition to Dad, our foundation was laid by our mom, Gloria Reaves (“Mama Reaves”) and our cousin, Douglas Spraglin (“Rent”). Mama Reaves was a whiz when it came to engaging with our customers, bookkeeping, and décor, while Rent was the ultimate pitmaster, able to grab meat straight off the pit with his bare hands (#facts). Sadly, Mama Reaves passed away in June 2010, with Rent following in October 2011, and Dad joining them in August 2019. But their impact is felt in everything we do.
In the left photo, Mama Reaves (left) dances with Dad (right) at Brent and
Charity’s wedding.
In the right photo, Rent takes a break from the hustle and bustle at the
State Fair of Texas.
Smokey John’s has always been family-owned and -operated, and we’re intentional about extending that spirit of family to our customers. It’s what’s made us a favorite spot for friends, families, and co-workers to gather and take a break from their day. It’s why we’ve hosted bible studies, rehearsal dinners, baby showers, and even a wedding (yes, a wedding!) at our restaurant. And it’s why we work so hard every day—we’re building a legacy for our family and our community.
We are family! Sons Juan and Brent Reaves (right and middle right, respectively) co-own and run the day-to-day operations, while daughter Yulise Reaves Waters (middle left), the attorney of the family, offers her expertise as a legal consultant for the company. In his later years, Dad (left) frequented the restaurant occasionally, but spent most of his time exploring new business opportunities and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ locally and nationally.
