Time changes everything in the world both good & bad and Grayson's Barbeque isn't imune. My familes been going there since it opened over 40 years ago. The meat has always been very good because Mr Grayson cooks meat the way it should be and has been doing it right for years so no need to change. The "homemade buns" they use make the sandwich though. With a regular bun the sauce turns the sandwich into, tryin' to describe it, "meat with a sponge, but the sponge won't hold water, it just melts away!" It isn't worth messing with and taking the time to drive that far to make or buy a sandwich. Definitely not what Grayson's has offered and known for making available.
Mr Grayson has worked hard to continue the service and reputation of his business but something has changed. Don't know who is in charge these days but service definitely has dropped. Driving 25 minutes one-way to buy sandwiches for 4-6 people to have, is something my family has done since Grayson's opened!. Putting their good sauce on any bun & then driving 25 minites home, the bun is by then soggy and melted away some but with a regular bun, by that time the bun is mush. No one wants that for the money & time spent. That is why we have most always ordered by the pound & got the homemade buns & some sauce separate, then we to build sandwiches and eat them right then where the bread is not soggy. Last trip there while my 'To Go' order is being filled the waitresses notice that my order of 1.5lbs of meat with 4 buns will leave them with just a couple of the homemade buns and they won't have enough "If" someone comes in to eat in the last 20 minutes that they're open. I see the homemade buns in her hand as she is about to complete my order, the meat is already weighed & packed, when the manager stops the waitress and says "We keep the 'Good Buns' for customers that eat inside!"
Surprised and dissappointed that I drove this far out of town to get something everyone at home is waiting for and knowing this would not be what the others were anticipating, I almost left without purchasing anything. Not wanting to make a scene I took what was given & paid $20 for my order just as my grandfather would have done, & I left. He taught me that we should take our business to locally owned businesses first because they support the backbone of our community & it's people! I've tried always to follow most of his teachings, but when a business puts a customer that may or may not appear 20 minutes before closing in front of or more important than taking care of a local customer, that has rarely drove by the place without stopping to purchase something, my support local philosophy is no longer going to be followed. The reception I recieved upon returning with the plain buns was not pleasant. We ended up ordering from Domino's soon after.
Shopping & buying from local businesses around my home town is how I was raised and most hometown retailers take care to keep regular customers happy and coming back over and over again. That's what makes the small town businesses successful. There isn't much in the small community of Clarence, La. Just 1 stop light, 2 convenience stores and Grayson's, the saying, "Blink and you'll miss it" actually describes the place as when going thru it, there isn't much other reason to stop there but Grayson's. Everything else in Clarence has been torn down, closed & boarded up. Locals have kept Grayson's in business, how long that continues with this kind of treatment to customers, not to mention the restroom being atrociously filthy, only time will tell when it is gone also. It would be a shame!
Maybe Natchitoches will have someone open a barbeque place in town again. Competition brings changes usually for the best and businesses will appreciate customers more when they have to work harder to keep 'em. Even small details that show appreciation for business have dissappeared. I don't ever recall a time since I was very young that when leaving Grayson's Barbeque, I don't remember hearing Mr Grayson say, "Come back and see us!" Little details do make a difference don't they! Then maybe bad days happen to us all. Knowing now about a new policy I may one day go back again, as other than MacD's, Burger King or the other regular fast food chains there isn't anither barbeque place for many miles. I will "CALL BEFORE GOING" though to make sure they have everything that makes their product one of the best in both food & service and all the world will be happy again. How good life would be! read more
