Smoke Signals
September 2020
we are city barbeque. We are family.
Working our way through a global pandemic has been no small feat and for that, we raise our glasses to our entire City Barbeque family who worked tirelessly during one of the most difficult times we will face.
A note from Ronnie Berry
I have been fortunate in my life to work for some great companies with awesome people holding special values about how we treat others. While I never expected to make my career be the restaurant industry, I wouldn’t trade it for another. Like many, what started as a part-time job became a passion due to the diversity of people and thought that surrounds us all each day. Serving as a high school drive-thru teammate at a Hardees in 1984 seems so long ago, but it was just the start of a real-life education.
Very few places offer you the opportunity to learn sales, service, production, supply chain and people management, as well as business acumen in the hands-on manner our industry offers. Better yet, the experience with the variety of cultures, ethnicities, education levels, gender, faiths and so much more have taught me the most about the value of those around me. Most importantly, I have learned that mutual respect, teamwork, and inclusion are essential to reaching our goals together.
As a young kid growing up in the rural suburbs of Indianapolis, my worldview broadened as I worked with restaurant teammates from all walks of life. These relationships taught me that while we may have many things in common, our individual journeys come with different complexities. Different backgrounds bring different hardships, but also diverse ways of thinking and problem-solving. That said, I also noticed that we all can fall victim to habit. It’s easier to keep doing things the way we always have or continue sheltering ourselves with people just like us. When I opened myself up to hear and see those different perspectives, teaming up with my diverse teammates produced more powerful results. The restaurant world gave me that opportunity, for which I am most thankful.
When I was introduced to City Barbeque and spent time with Rick and other leaders at the time, I noticed a genuine care for these same principles that sucked me in to this industry so many years ago. Though it wasn’t stated as our purpose at that time in 2011, I could see an authentic drive for serving and creating happiness for all that walk into the City, be they teammates, guests or vendors. That spirit was and is alive in our teams, then and today.
We are taught that to fulfill our purpose, we must live through our values and guiding behaviors. 2020 has been a crazy year and each of our values have experienced their challenges, yet teammates across the City rise to the challenge to meet them. This year especially, one value that has been stretched the most is Treating Others with Integrity, Fairness & Respect. With the stress of COVID-19, social unrest in America, a presidential election and social justice concerns across the world, we have all been challenged with this value. With stress comes anxiety, which leads to reactions that can be hurtful towards others. Today, our teams are challenged to react with kindness, when the requirement of wearing a mask or keeping social distance produces anxiety in a guest, who may not be the
friendliest. Even when it’s hard, stay true to the value that makes us special- Treating Others with Integrity, Fairness & Respect.
While our values that Rick founded the company on 20 years give us a path, it is up to each of us to bring that to life, every day on every shift with every encounter, inclusively for everyone. If it were only that easy, right? If there’s one thing I have learned, none of us are perfect. Sometimes we fall. We make mistakes and bad judgments. We understand that while sometimes people act with wrong intentions, many conflicts may be caused by unconscious bias and may cause divide amongst us. When given the chance, we live by our 95/5 rule and give the benefit of the doubt to our teammates and guests, forgiving because we believe in the best of each other. Being open to sharing ideas and creating solutions will always make teams and people stronger and City Barbeque will always strive for that.
As I said earlier, none of us are perfect, which is why we must live by the guiding behavior- Improve a Little Each Day. In that spirit, we continue to look deeply at our teammate experience at City Barbeque to ensure that we are providing, practicing and living out the values for all in the City. Through our Townhalls and surveys, we continue to understand the teammate pulse at City Barbeque. Meanwhile, two outstanding leaders, Aletha Dawson and Jillian Armstrong, will work closely with a focus group examining where that experience is succeeding and where we need to improve. From our recruiting and onboarding to coaching, developing, engaging and caring for our teams, we will continue to seek to understand the needs and hearts of the City, as we have since 1999.
Our mission is to make sure we make that dream a reality for all. We will have our antennas up, ears wide open and minds ready to keep moving the needle on improving our world for all teammates. Join us for the journey. All we ask from you is this:
· Be vulnerable and open to discuss with your leader where we excel and where we don’t.
· Bring ideas and solutions to the table to make us better, not just a complaint for why we aren’t happy.
· Believe in the good of others and operate with trust and forgiveness.
· Always treat others with integrity, fairness and respect.
It is this spirit that has allowed us to be named Best Employer, both locally and nationally.
I feel lucky to be here with all of you and know that God has planted me in the right place to contribute and grow along my journey. I hope you can say the same and if not, let’s be sure we find out how we can. - Ronnie
NEW Features:
Meet The chef, Haim asher.
Would you give us some of your background? Where you grew up, education, where you came from, etc.
I was born in Brooklyn, NY but grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC. I attended public schools in Myrtle Beach for grade school, but attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY for college. I joined City Barbeque after 6 years with Universal Parks & Resorts leading menu innovation for the parks & CityWalk
What got you interested in food?I grew up in a very food focused environment. Food was always a very special thing in my household, and both of my parents having different cultural backgrounds allowed me to, from a young age, be exposed to several unique and delicious cuisines. My family owned restaurants also which was a major influence on me in developing a true passion for great food and a love of the business.
Do you remember the first time you ever had barbeque?
The first time I had BBQ was in a backyard at a friend’s house – changed my life forever. I had a generous portion of pork, and remember not being able to tell my parents about it since I grew up in a very conservative Jewish household.
What is special about barbeque to you?
BBQ is always so personal, regional and, most of all, competitive. There is always something new to learn, improve or both! There is a lot of “tribal knowledge” with BBQ which is a great platform for starting conversations, breaking barriers, and making meaningful connections with people from all different backgrounds and cultures.
What is your favorite menu item?
The brisket. Period. Great brisket on some beautifully toasted bread is perfection that needs no sides, sauce or explanation – just bring an appetite and some friends or loved ones!
What is your favorite company value?
“Stay True.” I believe that if you Stay True to who we are, then all other values fall into place. Staying True, to me, means having integrity which rolls directly into serving competition quality food and being in constant pursuit of self-improvement.
What are you most excited for now that you are a part of the City Barbeque family?
Getting to know all of the folks that work here and seek to improve our food and guest proposition together.
RAVING FANS
Raleigh
I’m the executive chef partner of the capital grille Raleigh (north hills) and it’s nice to read praise emails rather than the opportunity ones. I just wanted to take the time to say thank you and great job! I Consistently enjoy the bbq here but my biggest praise comes from all your Covid-19 procedures. I was the only guest that was inside and when walking in every single team member already had their masks on and wearing them properly. It was not a scramble because a guest walked in. Gloves were worn when needed and the restaurant was separated and clean correctly. You guys pretty much nailed every Covid-19 procedure. It was the most comfortable restaurant setting I’ve been in other than my own. I can go on and on about this but again, GREAT JOB TEAM!!!!! Keep up the great work! I’m blown away!
Durham
I went to the City BBQ in Durham for lunch on Monday May 25th around 2:30pm. The girl at the register had faux locs in. I didn’t catch her name and I don’t have my receipt. She was sooooooo sweet and lively. She thanked me for being a nurse because I was in my scrubs and just remained so sweet and personable. She used my name the entire experience. I came back the next day for lunch because of her. I hope she gets some recognition. Thanks for being open during this time.
Westerville & Newark
NO PROBLEM! The folks at Westerville AND Newark have been doing a spectacular job thruout the shutdown. Dejuan and Andrew are all over it at Westerville. Every order has been timely and correct. And the friendliness has not wavered during this whole mess. Strange time, yes. But one constant has been the food and service at CityBBQ. Ditto for Joel and Jenn out at Newark. Can't possibly say enough good things about these all these guys.
Highland Heights
I was dining with friends at the Alexandria Pike City Barbecue. This was my first dining out experience since Covid-19 restrictions. We were eating outside and Meghan was so nice, getting us drinks, seeing how we were doing, even going in to get one of us dessert!! The outside was immaculate and they were following all the guidelines to the letter. This is my favorite one in the area anyway, the food is always good, hot fresh, and super nice people. Thanks! Now for another great story. It was raining that nice and I lost my phone. Calling to see if it was there. Your employee Hannah had found it. Not only did she find it for me, she drove on a rainy night to bring it to me at my house. So thankful for such nice people, You have some great employees here at this City Barbecue!
Greenwood
Each time during the crazy COVID-19 event, we have gone to this location. The services has been so outstanding. When we went there one time we were able to walk in an order since it was the evening. The staff was having a great time. You could hear them talking an communicating so well together an working as a team. It just put a smile to my dad an I's face. Then I just went there to grab lunch for us since it was on a day off for me. The way they came up to your car took your order was amazing. The way they seemed to follow each car an keep on top of things was so nice. Its like they took a page out of the Chick fil a handbook. To go meet the customer where they are. Then the whole time with a smile on their face. As a person who works in healthcare during this crazy time it was so refreshing to see that. Plus have someone come to you an treat you with such a great attitude. This store needs more praise than what I can give them.
IUPUI
I work in the pediatric ICU at our local children’s hospital. About once a week I stop in for carry out at the city barbecue for my husband and myself. When I enter the store I am always greeted with smiles and by name. Two employees Marchelle and Ashley go out of their way to be friendly to me and everyone else. The food is great too. I just had to say something because they always have me leaving the restaurant with a smile no matter how hard a day I’ve had at the hospital. They deserve kudos!!!! Thank you! Kathy Shields RN
Leadership Conference 2020
