By Peter Galuszka
Hold the Texas Pete while I wipe away my tears.
The Mitt Romney campaign is featuring a two minute video of Richmond’s venerable Bill’s Barbecue restaurant chain. The firm’s president, Rhoda Elliott, narrates the spot claiming that growing unemployment under President Obama was the reason for the demise of the chain which featured Virginia-style pork barbecue, limeades and fruit pies.
Truth Squad time:
- I may not be an expert but I do enjoy barbecue and having spent a lot of time in Eastern North Carolina, I have come to know the different types and what may be good and what isn’t. Since I have been coming to Richmond in the 1970s, I have always regarded Bill’s Barbecue as the worst barbecue I have ever tasted. It is dry, tasteless, and lacks bite. What’s more, I have often wondered about eating at Bill’s because of the often dirty dining rooms and restrooms they kept.
- BBQ is actually doing well. Richmond has a good barbecue outlet, Buzz and Ned’s. In fact, during the same Obama years, B&N managed to keep their Boulevard shop buzzing while opening another in the West End. Odd that Bill’s goes belly-up because of the bad economy while B&N expands. BTW, there is no shortage of any restaurants of any types in Richmond.
- Richmond has had special problems with unemployment but that had nothing to do Obama. Maybe Ms. Elliott doesn’t know this but mass retailer Circuit City went out of business in 2009. The reason: bad management that had nothing to do with Obama. All the sharp tacks at Circuit City ended up at spinoff CarMax. The dullards stayed on, killing the company. Quimonda went away because of global chip issues. LandAmerica kerflopped because the real estate finance market went bad during the term of George W. Bush. Since Obama has come in office, Richmond’s unemployment rate has steadily improved.
You have to ask yourself why Romney has had such serious trouble with truthful campaign statements. The Jeep thing was a doozey. As you know, Jeep was saved by the Italians who have rebuilt the brand. Romney claimed they were moving Jeep production to China. What they may do is move SOME new Jeep production to China to make Jeeps to be sold in that market. Hot flash for Mitt — Toyota, Honda and Mercedes all make cars in the U.S. for sale in the U.S. market. Mr. Bain Capital ought to know that.
As for Bill’s Barbecue, all I can say is good riddance. Richmonders are always pulling out their hankies for some sentimental memory that may never have been as great as they remember. As for barbecue itself, there were and are much better places for it.
