Ollie's Barbecue: Difference between revisions
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Ollie's was the subject of a landmark [[Civil Rights movement|Civil Rights]] ruling from the United States Supreme Court. In the case of [acting Attorney General Nicholas] Katzenbach v. McClung (1964) the court overturned a District Court opinion that Ollie's policy of serving African-American customers only at the take-out window was not subject to federal regulation under public accommodations clause of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. The Supreme Court determined that the restaurant's policies impacted how much meat it ordered from a local wholesaler, which in turn purchased it from a Hormel meatpacking plant in Arkansas. Therefore the government had the right to enforce integrated dining based on its ability to regulate interstate commerce. McClung agreed to abide by the decision and served five black customers two hours after the decision was announced on [[December 14]]. The decision, which was joined with a case involving an Atlanta hotel, effectively established non-segregated public accommodations throughout the United States. | Ollie's was the subject of a landmark [[Civil Rights movement|Civil Rights]] ruling from the United States Supreme Court. In the case of [acting Attorney General Nicholas] Katzenbach v. McClung (1964) the court overturned a District Court opinion that Ollie's policy of serving African-American customers only at the take-out window was not subject to federal regulation under public accommodations clause of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. The Supreme Court determined that the restaurant's policies impacted how much meat it ordered from a local wholesaler, which in turn purchased it from a Hormel meatpacking plant in Arkansas. Therefore the government had the right to enforce integrated dining based on its ability to regulate interstate commerce. McClung agreed to abide by the decision and served five black customers two hours after the decision was announced on [[December 14]]. The decision, which was joined with a case involving an Atlanta hotel, effectively established non-segregated public accommodations throughout the United States. | ||
In [[1968]], to accommodate the construction of [[Interstate 65]], Ollie's moved to the modern-style round building which became a landmark down the road at 515 [[University Boulevard]] ([[Green Springs Highway]]). Ollie's barbecue was twice delivered to Air Force One during [[List of | In [[1968]], to accommodate the construction of [[Interstate 65]], Ollie's moved to the modern-style round building which became a landmark down the road at 515 [[University Boulevard]] ([[Green Springs Highway]]). Ollie's barbecue was twice delivered to Air Force One during [[List of Presidential visits|visits to Birmingham]] by presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Other notables who dined at Ollie's include Billy Graham, Paul Newman, [[Wayne Rogers]], Lewis Grizzard and [[George Lindsey]]. | ||
In [[1989]] Ollie's son [[Ollie McClung, Jr|Ollie, Jr]] joined the partnership, then welcomed his sons [[Ollie McClung III|Ollie III]] and [[Barry McClung|Barry]] in [[1995]]. [[1999]] the owners moved the restaurant to a new location at [[Valleydale Road]] and [[U. S. Highway 31]] in [[Hoover]]. That location did not live up to the owner's expectations and was closed in [[2001]]. Ollie, Jr continued to produce the restaurant's signature sauce which is bottled and sold regionally at grocery stores. | In [[1989]] Ollie's son [[Ollie McClung, Jr|Ollie, Jr]] joined the partnership, then welcomed his sons [[Ollie McClung III|Ollie III]] and [[Barry McClung|Barry]] in [[1995]]. [[1999]] the owners moved the restaurant to a new location at [[Valleydale Road]] and [[U. S. Highway 31]] in [[Hoover]]. That location did not live up to the owner's expectations and was closed in [[2001]]. Ollie, Jr continued to produce the restaurant's signature sauce which is bottled and sold regionally at grocery stores. | ||
Revision as of 15:50, 19 August 2009
Ollie's Barbecue was a landmark barbecue restaurant, noted for its slow-cooked lean Boston butts, beef and chicken served with a thin, spicy, vinegary sauce, which was a landmark on Birmingham's Southside from 1926 to 1999.
The first Ollie's was opened on 8th Avenue South by James Ollie McClung. His son Ollie Wade McClung joined him in 1930. It originally occupied a small shack with wood plank floors, tar paper on the roof and screens nailed up around the walls. The building was rebuilt in 1949 and enlarged in 1959 to meet growing demand.
Ollie's was the subject of a landmark Civil Rights ruling from the United States Supreme Court. In the case of [acting Attorney General Nicholas] Katzenbach v. McClung (1964) the court overturned a District Court opinion that Ollie's policy of serving African-American customers only at the take-out window was not subject to federal regulation under public accommodations clause of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Supreme Court determined that the restaurant's policies impacted how much meat it ordered from a local wholesaler, which in turn purchased it from a Hormel meatpacking plant in Arkansas. Therefore the government had the right to enforce integrated dining based on its ability to regulate interstate commerce. McClung agreed to abide by the decision and served five black customers two hours after the decision was announced on December 14. The decision, which was joined with a case involving an Atlanta hotel, effectively established non-segregated public accommodations throughout the United States.
In 1968, to accommodate the construction of Interstate 65, Ollie's moved to the modern-style round building which became a landmark down the road at 515 University Boulevard (Green Springs Highway). Ollie's barbecue was twice delivered to Air Force One during visits to Birmingham by presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Other notables who dined at Ollie's include Billy Graham, Paul Newman, Wayne Rogers, Lewis Grizzard and George Lindsey.
In 1989 Ollie's son Ollie, Jr joined the partnership, then welcomed his sons Ollie III and Barry in 1995. 1999 the owners moved the restaurant to a new location at Valleydale Road and U. S. Highway 31 in Hoover. That location did not live up to the owner's expectations and was closed in 2001. Ollie, Jr continued to produce the restaurant's signature sauce which is bottled and sold regionally at grocery stores.
In 2005 Barry McClung opened a new Ollie's Barbecue on U.S. Highway 98 in Daphne (Baldwin County). The Green Springs Highway location was purchased and remodeled for Grace and Truth Church and its Kairos Kafe.
References
- "The Supreme Court: Beyond a Doubt" (December 25, 1964) TIME magazine
- Milazzo, Don (June 25, 1999) "Basics remain unchanged at the new Ollie's." Birmingham Business Journal
- Milazzo, Don (September 21, 2001) "Ollie's BBQ closes, but the sauce will live on." Birmingham Business Journal