Mary’s Old-Fashioned Pit BBQ

If you’ve been thinking about BBQ since the start of the tour—well then, welcome to Mary’s Old-Fashioned Pit Bar-B-Que! This story begins in 1955, when Willis M. Childress opened Shakey’s Barbecue on the northeast corner of 12th Avenue. After Childress died in 1959, his son Willis “Stoop” Childress, Jr. changed the name to Stoop’s Drive-In and made his wife, Mary Childress, a co-owner. Years later, Mary took full control of the drive-in and changed the name to reflect her ownership—Mary’s Old-Fashioned Pit Bar-B-Que. After the interstate forced the business to close on 12th Avenue, it moved here to 1106 Jefferson Street in the 1960s. 

After more than 30 years serving up BBQ and delicious sides, Mary retired in 1998, but the business stayed in the family. She sold the restaurant to Clark E. Fizer, Sr. who was married to Katresa Thompson—Mary’s granddaughter! Katresa took full ownership after Clark’s death in 2010. After a long history of family ownership, federal interstate displacement and gentrification, Mary’s Old-Fashioned Pit Bar-B-Que stands as a testament to the entrepreneurship of African American women. It also still serves the best late-night ribs and pork shoulder sandwiches on Jefferson Street.

Jefferson Street was the hub of Black business and music from the 1930s through the 1960s. Some of the most famous musicians who played here were Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, and Little Richard. Mary’s BBQ has been a staple in this neighborhood for residents and tourists alike and symbolizes the power of food and community in North Nashville. To learn more about this area, take our Jefferson Street Driving tour and watch “Exit 207: The Soul of Nashville”—a Belmont student documentary about this historic neighborhood.

Next up is The Southern V, 1200 Buchanan Street. Turn RIGHT onto Eleventh Ave. North from Mary’s BBQ. As we mentioned earlier, the interstate cut directly through the heart of Jefferson Street and you’ll be able to experience that first hand as we head to our next stop. Rather than a straight shot on Eleventh Avenue, which was cut into two separate streets, we’ll have to make a few turns. From Eleventh, turn RIGHT onto Cheatham Place then LEFT onto Arthur Ave. In about a half mile, turn LEFT onto Buchanan Street. The Southern V will be just ahead on your right.