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2017 SESSION

17101948D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 323
Offered January 19, 2017
Commending Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que.
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Patrons-- Norment, Cosgrove and Mason; Delegate: Pogge
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WHEREAS, Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que near Williamsburg is a nationally known Virginia institution that, in 2016, celebrated 45 years of serving award-winning, pit-smoked barbecue to loyal patrons; and

WHEREAS, Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que grew from small and humble beginnings as a walk-up structure in a horse pasture to become a thriving enterprise beloved by local residents, employees, and barbecue aficionados, who flock to the bright yellow and orange landmark from miles away; and

WHEREAS, Julius Conditt “Doc” Pierce, Sr., his wife, Verdie, and their son, Julius Conditt “Jay” Pierce, Jr., opened Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que on October 15, 1971, after borrowing $2,500 from a local bank to fund their restaurant venture; and

WHEREAS, Doc Pierce served as the first pit master and would smoke Boston butts for eight hours or more on a small barbecue pit he constructed beside his house, before slathering on the restaurant’s legendary sauce, his mother’s secret family recipe; and

WHEREAS, Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que now cooks over 400,000 pounds of meat a year, sells its famous sauce commercially, and routinely wins highly sought-after recognition as one of the best barbecue restaurants in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que has been successful by offering consistent quality and reasonable prices, using fresh ingredients to make menu items from scratch, and by employing a loyal staff, including multiple generations of the same family; and

WHEREAS, Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que’s success could not have been possible without the unwavering support of the Williamsburg community over the past 45 years, making it one of the busiest barbecue restaurants in all of Virginia, if not the eastern seaboard; and

WHEREAS, Doc Pierce died in 1991, Verdie Pierce died in 2004, and Jay Pierce carries on his family’s tradition today, making Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que a testament to the power of a strong family-owned business; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Pierce’s Pitt Bar-B-Que on celebrating 45 years of business serving loyal patrons from all over the Commonwealth and the country; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Julius Conditt Pierce, Jr., for carrying on his family’s pit-smoked barbecue tradition and for making Virginia a better place to visit.