By Kevan Goff-Parker
The Journal Record
NORMAN-Oklahomans can loosen another belt notch now that construction had begun on Rudy’s Oklahoma Bar-B-Q at 3450 Chautauqua Ave. in Norman.
An over-the-Red river import from Austin, Texas, Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q has 11 restaurants in Texas and two in New Mexico. Rudy’s Oklahoma Bar-B-Q is co-owned by two former Oklahomans (now Texans), Doug Bates and Lynn Ford.
In December 2005, the pair paid $1.1 million to Thomas F. James LP LLLP of Little Roc, Ark., and acquired 3.19 acres on the southwest corner of Highway 9 and Chautauqua Avenue. Brian Donahue, sales associate with CB Richard Ellis Oklahoma, and Judy Hatfield of Equity Reality handled the transaction.
Bates, a 1971 graduate of Oklahoma State University, said Rudy’s Norman location is the first for Oklahoma, but not last.
“Lynn went to the university of Oklahoma, and we like the location in Norman,” Bates said. “It’s off the college campus and off a little in the country. We think Oklahoma is going to be a great market for us, and we want to build several more.
“We’re looking at Oklahoma City and Tulsa locations, too,” he said. “Lynn grew up in Oklahoma City, and I grew up in Bartlesville. Most Rudy’s are company-owned, but ours is a joint venture.”
Bates said it cost more than $2 million for the land and to build Rudy’s Oklahoma Bar-B-Q in Norman. When complete this summer, the restaurant, filling station and country store will hire about 60 to 70 employees to work in the nearly 4,000 square-foot building that will seat about 150 customers.
“Rudy’s is an old-fashioned country store where we smoke our meats and price them by the half pound,” he said. “We sell a wide variety of smoked meats, including brisket, ribs, pork loin, turkey, spare ribs and baby back ribs with plenty of side dishes. We’ll have an ice trough of cold beer and when weather is nice, we’ll open up the garage doors on the patio.”
Rudy’s Oklahoma Bar-B-Q will also sell breakfast tacos on the morning and offer catering and boxed meals.
