Billy Sims Barbecue set for season opener on Friday

The final touches were being made all day on Wednesday as Guthrie’s new restaurant, Billy Sims Barbecue, prepares to open their doors on Friday.

Owner and operator Louis “Marty” Wray will open his third Billy Sims restaurant on Friday, April 19 at 11 a.m. The daily store hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the 1624 S. Division location.

With the barbecue scent of the first batch of ribs in the smoker, Wray talked about the excitement on the opening day as workers hung several college football helmets along the wall, including an upside down Texas helmet.

“A lot of people from Guthrie would visit our Edmond store and told us we should come to Guthrie,” Wray said who owns the Billy Sims locations in both Edmond and Norman.

Billy Sims BBQ rushing to Guthrie | Check out the menu.

The barbecue restaurants offer nine kinds of smoked meats — brisket (sliced and chopped), pulled pork, chicken breast, turkey breast, hot links, Polish sausage, bologna and ribs — as well as nine sides ranging from baked beans and baked potatoes to smoked corn on the cob and cole slaw. There are no fried foods, including French fries.

Guests order at the counter, starting with the meat cutter and moving down to employees who serve up the side dishes. When orders are complete, guests take their food to tables and get their own drinks from a self-serve counter.

Wray, who worked himself up from an assistant manager to an owner, said they will have their grand opening with the Chamber of Commerce on May 17. On that day, Sims will make his debut and will meet and greet customers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sims, the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner and later a No. 1 draft pick with the Detroit Lions, has currently 30 stores scattered throughout Oklahoma, Missouri and Michigan, including 12 in the Tulsa area where the corporate office is located.