Backroads BBQ in Lebanon recently celebrated its five-year anniversary. To mark the milestone, Catering Manager Kendall Canal and General Manager Eric Price not only threw a party at the restaurant to commemorate the date the business opened, but also honored five of its community partners. Decorations, lunch and cupcakes were taken to supporters to show appreciation for relationships built over the last five years.
“We are focused on community engagement and giving back,” says Canal. “For five days, we picked one partner each day to bring a celebration lunch to. If it wasn’t for State Bank, who gave the owners a loan when the restaurant was first starting up, we wouldn’t be here. The marketing of Heart of Lebanon gets our name out there. Boone County Chamber is a tremendous partner, and we have made a lot of connections through it. The Farmers Bank Fieldhouse makes attendees of sporting events aware of us. We are grateful for the good the Lebanon Area Boys & Girls Club does for the community.”
Canal, whose father, Chris Canal, is one of the owners, started working at Backroads BBQ when she was 17. At the beginning she worked during school breaks, but as the years went on she took on roles with increasing responsibility. She has seen changes since the restaurant first opened.
“When I first started working at Backroads BBQ, I was getting to know if I liked the business,” she says. “I went to Ball State University and was thinking of majoring in fashion design, but I ended up getting my degree in hospitality management. I worked as a server and then general manager for a year before becoming catering manager. There has been growth in Boone County especially over the last two years. There is a lot of construction and many new businesses. It has created new customers and increased catering business.”
“The menu has changed,” she adds. “We keep it fresh and there are new side options every year. The servers come to us and tell us what the customers want, as well as what they don’t. Their input is important and decisions are made as a team. We want to make sure there is something on the menu for everyone.”
Besides traditional barbecue fare of pulled chicken, pork, brisket, turkey and homestyle sides, the restaurant offers tenderloins, wraps and a kids menu. The loaded mac and cheese is topped with pulled pork and onion rings. Every diner gets a basket of cheddar biscuits and apple butter. The smoked wings are very popular, and are dry rubbed and flash fried to make them crispy. There are also plenty of appetizer, burger, sandwich, salad and chili options.
“A big surprise is the regular customers that are from out of state,” says Canal. “We are right off Interstate 65 and semi-truck drivers and business travelers that go back and forth from Chicago stop here on their way in and out of town. They buy our spice rubs and barbecue sauces, as well as quarts of sides and meat by the pound.”
“We are looking forward to another great five years,” she says. “We recently began an offshoot company called Brick Street Catering in Zionsville. It is important to us to continue helping in the community. We love to see smiling faces at events. I’d also like to say a big thank-you to our owners, Chris Canal and Joe Stein. They stay behind the scenes but we couldn’t do it without them.”
Backroads BBQ is located at 1404 West South Street in Lebanon. Call them at 765-764-0070, or email info@thebackroadsbbq.com. Also find them on Facebook and Instagram.
