Our Story
Big Bull’s Bang’n BBQ began long before the restaurant opened.
In 2013, Big Bull started making BBQ sandwiches for his coworkers. Before long, he began selling at a few small events while still feeding the people he worked with — and every time, he sold out.
QUICK TIMELINE
2013
BBQ sandwiches for coworkers
2014
Roadside BBQ setup begins
2015
Restaurant opens
Today
One of Columbia’s most talked-about family-run BBQ spots
Then he decided to take things a step further.
He headed into “The Lab” and started creating his own sauces. In 2014, he introduced his first signature sauce, Bussin — a name given by a young man after tasting it. From that point on, there was no turning back. Today, Big Bull’s Bang’n BBQ offers seven signature sauces, each with its own flavor and personality.
On a Sunday morning in October 2014, Big Bull and Mama Bull set up at the corner of Hard Scrabble Road and William H. Hardin Road, serving fried fish and BBQ. The response was strong, and the dream kept growing.
The very next week, Big Bull went looking for a place to share more of his food with the community. While driving up Hard Scrabble Road, he passed what is now our current location — an old building sitting beside a busy road. He found the owner and asked if we could sell food in front of the building. The owner agreed, and for several months, we sold meals there every weekend.
After those months of roadside sales, we decided to try our hand at opening a restaurant.
What followed was a journey full of obstacles, unexpected costs, closed doors, and more than a few frustrating conversations. We heard plenty of “no,” plenty of “that will cost $10,000,” and plenty of “you’ll need to call someone else for that.” But through it all, we saw God’s hand again and again. We started with limited funds, and somehow, the right people kept showing up at the right time. Contractors blessed us with their services, doors opened, and step by step, the vision came to life.
After months of posting “Two More Weeks” on Facebook, we finally opened our doors on April 17, 2015.
We had no idea what we were signing up for.
And honestly, there is no way to tell the full story here. Only a book could do it justice.
Before the Beginning
There is one part of the story we have to go back and tell.
On November 30, 2013, while on a date, Mama Bull told Big Bull that he should open a restaurant. His response was immediate:
“No, no… absolutely no. That’s like having multiple kids and five additional children!”
Looking back now, he was more right than he knew.
The Journey
Since opening in 2015, this journey has come with twists, turns, heartbreaks, long nights, stress, sacrifices, and a whole lot of prayer.
Then came 2020 — the pandemic.
Like so many others, we were forced to adjust quickly. The world seemed to stop, but Big Bull didn’t. We shifted online and began offering our own delivery service on site. That season did not last long, but what followed was a level of demand that was hard to keep up with. We kept pushing, kept adapting, and kept serving.
Over the years, customers have often asked why we do not open a larger restaurant. Our answer has always been the same: quality matters more to us than size.
It is important to us that every customer receives a product we can be proud of. Our brand was built on blood, sweat, tears, faith, sacrifice, and a refusal to quit. We know we will not get it right every single time, but our goal is to get it right every time.
The pandemic taught us something important: less is more. It is better to serve well than to overextend ourselves, exhaust our team, and send out food that does not represent who we are.
Growing and Changing
By Year Eight, we had learned a lot.
We almost did not make it there.
Like many small businesses, we had to make changes to survive. Costs increased, and the times changed. For years, Big Bull resisted raising prices — in fact, more than 85% of our menu prices remained the same from our roadside days in 2014. But eventually, we had to evolve.
One of our biggest changes was moving away from plates and toward an à la carte model.
Why? Because plates forced customers into fixed combinations. Now, our customers are in control. You can order exactly what you want — one rib, one pork chop, a sandwich, a side, or multiple sides in different sizes. That flexibility has allowed customers to create meals that fit their appetite and budget, and they have truly embraced it.
Built by Family
Big Bull’s Bang’n BBQ is not just family-owned.
It is family-built.
When you call or visit, you are likely interacting with our family. Our oldest daughter helps ensure your order is entered correctly, prepares drinks and desserts, checks every order before it leaves, and does not hesitate to send something back if it is not right. She is serious about quality, and we love her for it.
Our second daughter helps lead in desserts. She prepares banana pudding and cakes, and she started young. Her talent is undeniable, and she has already made her mark on what we do.
Our youngest is strong in the kitchen and can prepare a great burger. While Mama Bull still handles most of the burgers, our youngest has stepped in many times and follows directions with precision and pride.
This business is truly a labor of love from our family to yours.
Why We Do It
We are a family business, and every order that leaves our kitchen matters to us.
We are grateful for every customer who supports us, waits patiently, tells a friend, shares a post, places an order, or simply believes in what we are building. Your support has helped us grow from selling on the side of the road to becoming a name people know and trust.
We are still growing. We are still learning. And our story is still being written.
To be continued…
Recognition
We are grateful for the recognition Big Bull’s Bang’n BBQ has received over the years, including nominations and honors for categories such as BBQ, catering, burgers, wings, chicken, food truck, and overall excellence.
A couple of recommendations before you publish this:
First, I would remove or separately verify the ranking claims and article link before putting them back on the site, because those types of “currently ranked” statements can age quickly.