Thousands of Alabama folks heading to Panama City have pulled off at Dobbs Barbeque in Dothan for over a century. Now, they will have to find a new food stop that does not have the history and atmosphere of Dobbs Famous Bar-B-Que.
The famous eatery at the southern intersection of Ross Clarke Circle and highway 231 operated its last day Sunday. The final owner, Art Mayo, announced the closure the day before.
Barbeque historians say that Dobbs was the second-oldest BBQ joint in Alabama, behind Golden Rule BBQ in Jefferson County’s Irondale, founded in 1891, 134 years ago.
Dobbs was started in central Alabama’s Tallassee in 1910 by Euell Lee Dobbs Sr. who moved it to Dothan in 1948, 77 years ago.
Since the news of Dobbs’ closure quickly spread, memories from customers of Dobbs have passed around.
Dothan native Alva Lambert said Dobbs had the best camp stew he ever had. Also, he recalls owner Lee Dobbs in his trademark blue coveralls welcoming customers. Later, Lambert said that Dobbs would ease around to tables and entertain patrons with his “Hooie-Sooie Stick”.
It was a handmade stick about a foot long and had notches carved in it with an ice cream wooden stick propeller at the end and another propeller at an angle above it.
As Dobbs ran his fingers across the notches, he would give the command hooie or sooie and make each of the propellers rotate. He would always preface the act by saying that one propeller was a little slower since that “last cool snap”. Then Dobbs would give a command and make the propellers rotate in an opposite direction in an instant.
You can’t get that type of service in most modern restaurants.
Ron Creel, Sr, founder and chairman of the Alabama Sports Festival Foundation and former Wiregrass resident, said he recalled the drive-up curb service at Dobbs BBQ in the 50s, 60s and even early 70s. He said the strawberry shortcake was the best anywhere and was their signature dessert.
No information has been released on what will be done with the Dobbs property and whether the restaurant could re-open at another location.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected]
