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WELCOME TO PARKS

Lets go back a little bit. In 1963 Detroit had, maybe, one and half million individuals. This was the tail end of the “Great Migration” of African Americans’ movement away from the south. Over the course of forty years about six million southern Blacks moved away from the south. The population shifted into the great cities of the north, where better wages in manufacturing helped forge a Black middle class. These men and women worked hard and they were hungry for the flavors of the south: greens, pork ribs and southern style sauces.

~ Dan B. Jones

The Metropolitan

THE PARKS OLD STYLE BAR-B-Q STORY

Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q was founded in May, 1964 by Edward "Terry" Parks, a former postal worker and entrepreneur and Verna Parks, a Detroit Public Schools counselor, as a sole proprietorship. The Company was incorporated in November, 1977. The Parks' purchased the property at 500 Custer St. and built the building that is now known as 7444 Beaubien St. The building has been enlarged and evolved into its current configuration. The senior Parks' were joined in the business by their two sons, Roderick and Phillip, and a dedicated staff, who followed "Terry" from Youngs' Bar-B-Q, all of whom worked tirelessly to push the fledgling business forward.

Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q is a destination spot, "Bar-B-Q Joint" and an iconic fixture in Detroit's North End community. Upon the retirement of Edward and Verna Parks in 1999, 2nd generation operators, Rod, Sr. and Phil, Sr. continued the business practices established by their parents. Currently, the Company is managed by 3rd generation Parks grandchildren, Rod, Jr., Phil, Jr., Christopher Parks and Camille Parks Allen. Fourth generation ·is "warming up in the bull pen". Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q has endured the hard times and thrived in the good times to bring metro Detroit the finest and tastiest barbecued pork, beef and chicken imaginable. Discover the tantalizing flavor of our premium ribs and chicken, seasoned with rare imported spices, and slow pit cooked over smoldering fires of hard woods, fruit woods and charcoal.

"THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE TASTE"

Ribs and chicken are liberally basted with our special, authentic, house made, vinegar based sauces for that "Soul Deep Flavor." Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q CATERS for all events and DELIVERS ·to all areas of metro Detroit. Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q takes its show "on the road", with an 18 foot, self contained, concession trailer, during warm weather months, to participates in week-end events and festivals in Detroit, Ferndale, Royal Oak, Brighton and Pontiac.

SINCE 1964