Memphis-style barbecue

Many small neighborhood joints in low-income areas, such as Payne's,[2] Leonard's[3] and Interstate,[4] have gained notoriety as they reflect the roots of Memphis barbecue.

[7] As Memphis-style barbecue became more popular across the country, restaurants such as Corky's and The Rendezvous[8] began shipping orders overnight to customers.

Interstate Bar-B-Que was founded in 1978 by Jim Neely in a rundown grocery store in the low-income neighborhood of South Memphis.

Though never a restaurateur, Neely learned how to slow cook ribs in a pit and created a secret sauce based on various local family recipes.

Interstate rose to prominence as one of the premier barbecue restaurants in the city, and was featured nationally on The Food Network and The Travel Channel.