Jack's BarBQue Award Winning BBQ and Sauces

From Humble
Beginnings.
Jack Cawthon started Jack's Bar-B-Que on the corner of Broadway and 1st Avenue in a tiny concrete block building. Jack renovated the building and added a patio overlooking Riverfront Park and Broadway.

A man of taste and multi-talents, Jack Cawthon first began in the
food service business as Cawthon's Caterer, Inc. in 1976. While catering to Nashville's social functions over the years, Cawthon found there was a void in "good Nashville barbecue," and so began his homework.

Jack's Bar-B-Que was the first casual restaurant on Broadway to open after many years of decline on lower Broadway. Some people say that Jack's Bar-B-Que started the first revitalization of lower Broadway. This free standing building poured out a steady stream of hickory-flavored smoke, drawing people from all over the world on their visit to Nashville. Jack's Bar-B-Que was written up in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Southern Living, and USA Today as “The Best Bar-B-Que in Nashville, Tennessee”. As demand increased for Jack's Bar-B-Que he added a second location on West Trinity Lane.

Jack's BBQ Nashville Downtown, known as the District, began to flourish as 2nd Ave started making a turn around and special events were taking place at Riverfront Park. This area began to look attractive to outside business; Opryland opened the Wild Horse Saloon on 2nd Ave and Hard Rock Cafe chose 100 Broadway for their new Nashville location. Jack lost his lease and the building has since been torn down and made into a parking lot for Hard Rock Cafe.

Needing to close or relocate, Jack asked his employees' opinions on
where to move. Their reply was to relocate to the Ryman, Tootsies, and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop area. After all, these were the attractions most frequently inquired about by customers. Jack followed their advice, landing right smack in the middle of these three country music landmarks...this time buying the building! The news media followed this move with a great deal of interest. The community followed with support and hopes that Jack would survive such a transition

A Sign Of Change
On Broadway
Broadway again looked even more
attractive, the Arena and Planet Hollywood soon followed. When Planet Hollywood had their grand opening and block party,
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and many other stars came but there was some controversy over the huge Planet Hollywood sign that loomed over Broadway. The sign had been put up without a permit.

Pigs Do Fly

The news media gave it a lot of coverage. It became a political challenge with the city council to see what stand they would take. A councilman was quoted in saying, “I guess the next thing will be Pigs over Broadway”. Jack, (being the entrepreneur that he is), seized this opportunity and replied, “I think Pigs do fly”. The rest is history. “Let the Pigs Fly”. Planet Hollywood kept their sign and Jack came up with a new sign which became a very popular design that is seen all over the world on T-shirts and other apparel. When in Nashville look for the “Pigs Over Broadway” where you can enjoy Jack’s Bar-B-Que and try our West Trinity Lane location just a short cab ride from downtown.