Dickey's Barbecue Honors 84 Years of Legendary Pit Smoked Tradition this October

World’s Largest Barbecue Brand Marks Milestone Birthday with Month Long Celebration of Family, Flavor and Future Growth

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This October, Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is celebrating 84 years of smoke, flavor, and family tradition. Founded on October 15, 1941, Dickey’s began as a small Dallas barbecue joint opened by Travis Dickey, Sr. and has since grown into the largest barbecue brand in the world. To honor the milestone, Dickey’s is rolling out exclusive promotions, contests, and special offers all month long while reflecting on its journey from a family dream to an enduring American institution.

“For me, this birthday is deeply personal,” said Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group. “My grandfather started this brand with one restaurant and one smoker and today it has become a name known across the globe. That kind of growth does not just happen. It is built on decades of hard work, family pride, and an unwavering love of barbecue.”

As the brand’s fourth CEO and the first woman to lead the company, Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., reflected on the milestone with gratitude.

“Eighty four years later we are still serving guests with the same Texas hospitality that began in 1941. This October is a chance to thank the generations of pitmasters, franchisees, and guests who have fueled our success and carried forward the legacy Travis Dickey, Sr. began.”

Birthday Month Promotions

Throughout October, guests can join the celebration with offers designed to honor the brand’s 84 year history:

• $8.84 Birthday Combo — Pulled pork sandwich, barbecue beans, and a Big Yellow Cup
• $19.41 Party Pack for Two — A nod to the founding year, serving up smoked barbecue at a birthday friendly price
• Double Rewards Points — Earn 2× points on Family and XL packs all month long
• Big Yellow Cup Selfie Contest — Fans can enter to win a $100 gift card by sharing their best Big Yellow Cup photo
• Review the Cue Video Contest — One winner will receive $1,941 plus a year of free barbecue

“Eighty four years is not just about history. It is about momentum,” Roland Dickey, Jr. added. “We have stayed true to our roots but we have also embraced innovation and growth. That balance is what makes me so proud of what my family started and what we continue to build today.”

Reflecting on the Past, Inspiring the Future

Through industry shifts, new markets, and evolving guest expectations, Dickey’s has kept its focus on authenticity. From wood smoked meats to community partnerships, the brand’s foundation remains firmly tied to its Texas roots.

“October is not only a celebration. It is a reminder of what is possible when tradition and innovation walk hand in hand,” said Laura Rea Dickey. “The next 84 years will be shaped by our ability to stay true to who we are while inspiring new generations of barbecue lovers.”

Roland Dickey, Jr. emphasized the pride he takes in what Dickey’s has become. “Every anniversary is proof of what family, community, and barbecue can create together. I am proud of our past but I am even more proud of how we are shaping the future of barbecue for the next generation.”

For more information, go to www.dickeys.com/84bday.

About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Founded in 1941 by the Dickey family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world’s largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For more than 80 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.™ Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey’s barbecued meats are paired with a variety of Southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey’s never takes shortcuts — because real barbecue can’t be rushed.

With more than 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey’s Barbecue Franchise and Dickey’s Restaurant Brands continue to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey’s has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2022 "America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation’s Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology’s Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine.

For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. For franchise opportunities, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com.