CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Checkered flags flying high and cars lining up under the summer sun are the tell-tale signs you're at Dukeville Bar-B-Cue and you're about to meet its namesake Terry Duke.

"I'm a people person, and I enjoy meeting new faces," explained Duke.

These days, Duke is meeting all kinds of faces at his drive-thru off A US-41 in Joelton after starting at the race tracks.

"Highland Rim and Nashville Speedway, they would hit me up with orders to feed for their teams."

He then fed the masses from his own home.

"I was scared somebody's gonna turn me in and blocking the neighbor's driveways," said Duke.

So, that drove him to get a food truck.

"We've been all around Cheatham County, some parts of Nashville downtown, and everybody loves it."

All that love built up to their current location not far from the Davidson County line.

"It ain't a fancy drive through, but it works for us. We don't rush you off, even though the line's long. We're gonna take our time with you."

Just like the time they take making the food.

"I start cooking at 2 a.m.," said Duke. "I use real hickory slab wood. I have a 33-foot-long cooker. I think it's the old timey way, and it's giving it the love."

And the customers give that love right back.

"Fourth of July weekend, we sold 360 pound of barbecue out of this little joint...Smoked meatloaf. Some days we'll have smoked spaghetti."

Their special menu changes daily but the regular items keep everyone coming back.

"Great people live here. To this day, I've never had a rude customer."

Those customers are sampling food like the "redneck taters" and "mac bowls."

"Mac and cheese and barbecue beans with a scoop of barbecue on top," explained Duke. "There's something about them. Beans with the sweetness on top of that mac and cheese just makes it even more better."

Even better than the barbecue, Duke said his customers mean everything as he teared up while recalling one story that's stuck with him for years.

"There was a lady that loved our smoke bolognas, and she caught cancer and she was she sent a friend to me. She wanted a bologna. That's all she wanted. Well, this is back when I was laying brick. we had a big job that day. Was finishing up and stuff. And I shut it down. I fired that 33-footer up for one bologna," said Duke. "It's awesome to be asked to do something like that, to move somebody that way, that all they wanted before they died was a bologna, and that's the story that's moved me in such a way to where it just makes me want to keep on going."

Dukeville Bar B Cue has family night on Thursdays where people can score a good deal while gathering with loved ones over some tasty food.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/on-tour-middle-tn/dukeville-bar-b-cue/