Lexington’s Speedy’s Barbecue is preparing to move from its 60-year-old home
After nearly four years of worries and sleepless nights, Roy Dunn, owner of Speedy’s Barbecue Inc., has peace of mind knowing his 60-year-old restaurant has a new location to call home.
Speedy’s Barbecue will move to 408 Piedmont Drive in the former Tricia’s Catering location sometime in March after having made its home at 1317 Winston Road for decades. Even before Dunn worked in the former Speedy’s Drive-In in 1963, the Winston Road building housed many restaurants, including the Rainbow Sandwich Shop in the 1940s and Tussey’s Barbecue, Dunn said.
Speedy’s Barbecue must vacate its long-term home by March 1 to make way for the Winston Road widening project. Most of the shops on the same side of Winston Road have already been demolished by NC Department of Transportation employees or contractors for the project.
“It’s about a fifth of a mile from where we are now,” Dunn said. “It’s really a better location. The building is newer and has no problems. You have to look to the future.”
Only the location changes, Dunn emphasized. Speedy’s will have the same menu, same staff, same prices and same motto – “Quality, Quantity and Fast Service”.
Dunn learned about four years ago that he had to either close Speedy’s for good or find a new home. Though he’s 78, he said he never considered closing. He loves the restaurant business and feeding people.
“I really enjoy what I do,” he said. “I’ve been in the restaurant business since 1961 when I worked at Old Hickory Barbecue… I’ve had a few sleepless nights thinking about all of this. I have 30 employees, my family working with me, and loyal customers who wanted to know where we’re moving or if we’re closing. I never thought about closing.”
The restaurant has been on Winston Road since 1963 when Paul ‘Speedy’ Lohr opened it as Speedy’s Drive-in. Dunn began working at the restaurant in the early ’60s taking orders for cars waiting outside. Speedy’s was bought in 1970 by Roy Dunn and his cousin, the late Bud Dunn. In 1978, Roy’s younger brother, Boyd Dunn, bought their cousin’s interest in the business. They ran the business together for almost 40 years until Boyd Dunn retired leaving Roy as the sole owner.
For the past two years, rumors have been circulating that Dunn Speedy’s would be closing rather than moving. Then rumors swirled that he was moving, but where? People spread the word that he had bought Kerley’s Barbecue near Welcome, the former Neon Diner on Talbert Boulevard and Tricia’s Catering and that he was just rebuilding further down the widened Winston Road where he is now.
Dunn bought the former Tricia’s Catering location in November, but didn’t tell everyone right away. He said he wants to work out the move first before announcing it.
“I’d love to close at the current location one evening and reopen here the next day,” Dunn said while seated in the new location’s dining room. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. We have ordered some gear that we are waiting for and there are other things to do. Maybe we won’t be down for more than a week.”
Dunn said he’ll be shouting the opening date from the rooftops on Piedmont Drive as soon as he knows.
In the meantime, he and his staff transferred most of the artwork — barbecue festival posters, vintage food and drink signs, and more — that adorned the Winston Road restaurant. He enclosed part of the new dining room to create a smaller, more intimate dining space. Dunn plans to name it after his son Rob Johnson, who died of COVID two years ago.
The Piedmont Drive location accommodates approximately 145-150 people. The Winston Road location can accommodate approximately 160 people. Curbside service will continue to be a part of Speedy’s after the move.
“Some people think I’m crazy because I’m 78 and I’m moving the restaurant,” he said. “Some thought I was going to retire. You have to love what you do, and I do. If you love what you do, you won’t work a day in your life.”
Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch’s senior trending and personality reporter, always looking for tips on business and entertainment events, secret and new menu items, and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at [email protected]