If you've lived in Russellville for a while, chances are good that Sue Pilgrim satisfied your sweet tooth more than once.
Whether it was her delicious sweets and cakes freshly made daily at Pilgrim's Place Barbecue & Catering or at one of the hundreds of weddings, dinners, receptions, meetings and other special events she catered, Sue and her desserts were both incredibly sweet.
Although Sue passed away in 2014, her family legacy lives on at Pilgrim's Place, where her daughter and son-in-law, Melinda and Rickey Smith, have run the business since 2001. Fred and Sue Pilgrim opened Pilgrim's Place Barbecue on North Jackson Avenue in Russellville in June of 1992.
More than 24 years later, Pilgrim's Place remains a local favorite for delicious smoked chicken, ribs and barbecue, as well as homemade desserts.
“We moved here on September 11, 2001, to take over the business my parents had,” Melinda said. “They were ready to retire and wanted to keep it in the family. We worked for them for six months. They taught us how to run it and we've done it ever since,” she added.
Melinda uses the same delicious recipes for desserts her mother used, and she also makes cole slaw, potato salad, pimento cheese and other Pilgrim's favorites fresh daily.
Customers can enjoy an annual treat this week at Pilgrim's Place Barbecue, their mouth-watering baby back ribs. Rickey smokes the ribs for the Fourth of July each year and it's a treat not ordinarily available at the restaurant, although they regularly have St. Louis-style ribs for sale by the pound or slab. The Smiths are taking orders now on baby back ribs at 256-332-1007.
Pilgrim's Place family packs are another great option for families on-the-go or for special events. They're available with pork, whole chicken or grilled or fried chicken tenders, with two pint-size sides, eight pack of buns, two-liter drink, family size chips and sauce.
“We try to have something on our menu that appeals to everyone,” Rickey said. “If you're watching what you eat, we have healthy chef salads with grilled chicken tenders and fresh fruit plates daily.”
Pilgrim's Place also offers lunch plates Monday through Saturday, with choice of meat, three sides and tea. Look for new and unusual side items in addition to the staple favorites of baked beans, slaw and potato salad.
The Smiths were honored earlier this year when they received word that Pilgrim's Place chicken salad was added to the latest “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” list, published by the Alabama Department of Tourism. The recipe for this delicious chicken salad? To no one's surprise, it comes from Sue.
“Her unique blend of shredded chicken, pecans, sweet relish and spices has made Mrs. Sue's chicken salad a must item for weddings, dinners and brunches,” Melinda said. “It became so popular we added it to the menu in plates and sandwiches. We also sell it by pints and quarts for an easy, time-saving family meal.”
Pilgrim's Place Barbecue & Catering lives up to the catering part of its name with regular catering for eight northwest Alabama businesses. Melinda said she enjoys this aspect of the business and it's a way to outreach to new customers from outside the local area.
“I love getting out and meeting people. We've definitely picked up business from the people we sell to and it's become a major part of what we do,” she said.
Additionally, Pilgrim's Place caters weddings, rehearsal dinners, business dinners, board meetings and any other special events. Melinda said her catering menu is not limited to what's on the restaurant menu.
“Whatever you want, we'll try to do for your special event,” she said.
It's not a large employer (a total of five employees), but Pilgrim's Place is the epitome of a small business success—hometown folks opening a hometown business. And a quarter century later, the Pilgrim family remains the restaurant's driving force.
“I miss my mother every day. Her cakes and sweets were so well known. I think about her sometimes when I'm baking and when we're working on catered events. She liked helping with those,” Melinda said.
“We've got some really good employees who are good, honest, hard-working folks friendly with our customers. That helps. We're here more than we're home. Sundays are our only day we're not here and that's because we're closed, so this is truly a home-owned business,” Melinda said.
