The Old School BBQ Sauce Brand That Was Born From A Southern Family Restaurant

Cookouts in the South have always meant more than just the food. It's a culture of coming together, and a means by which generations of families bond. BBQ sauce is a mainstay ingredient all around the United States, but few names have had the lasting power that Johnny Harris does. The brand progressed from being a simple roadside shack to a household name. The tale began in 1924 when Johnny Harris, a young visionary entrepreneur, opened a small BBQ stand in Savannah, Georgia. He then partnered with John Moore, a great cook from Virginia. Together, they created the BBQ sauce recipe that blended distinct levels of sweet and just the right amount of spice.

This remarkable BBQ sauce became the life of the restaurant and a lasting Southern dining experience for decades. In 1936, the restaurant moved into a larger building, allowing its reputation to grow beyond measure. The restaurant also gained a loyal following, becoming a must-see landmark. What made the story even more remarkable is that the sauce didn't disappear when Johnny Harris himself passed away in 1942. His partner, Red Donaldson, kept the sauce going, passing the ownership of the recipe on to the next generation. They protected the recipe so that the taste would never change. The sauce quickly became a marker of Savannah hospitality and Southern pride.

By the middle of the 20th century, Johnny Harris sauce was no longer just something you enjoyed in a restaurant. It was being bottled, sold, and shipped, allowing people to take a little piece of Savannah home with them. Those who visited the restaurant began putting the sauce in their pantries, and it wasn't long before it stood on its own as a product loved in places far beyond Georgia. And when the restaurant closed its doors after more than 90 years, the sauce lived on. For many families, it symbolized memories of family gatherings around enthusiastic red checkered tables and plates full of smoky meats.

Even as years turned into decades, the recipe remained alluring. Granted, the DIY community takes pride in making homemade BBQ sauce with just three ingredients. Nonetheless, there are several ways to improve store-bought BBQ sauce, from stirring in some pineapple juice, or drizzling in some maple syrup.

The sauce could be brushed on ribs, smothered on grilled chicken, incorporated in baked beans, or drizzled on a burger for a Southern kick. That adaptability is partly why it didn't go away, even when the great restaurant's doors were closed for good in 2016. The brand has since taken the leap to offer other sauces and rubs, but the original recipe holds the essence of the story. Today, Johnny Harris sauce is no longer just about BBQ; it's about legacy.