FLINT, Michigan — Co-owner Ron Housley of Maude’s Alabama BBQ, situated on the east side of Flint at 2602 Davison Rd, exudes the spirit of southern hospitality ingrained in their business DNA. The restaurant, run by Ron, his wife, and father-in-law, with a young and dedicated staff, is a testament to resilience and the power of family.

Maude, the heart and soul of the establishment, passed away in 2012, but her legacy lives on through the business. “Every recipe, sign, screen, and bottle of sauce bears her name, serving as a tribute to her infectious spirit,” expressed Housley.

Maude’s Alabama BBQ has become a beloved staple on the city's east side, displaying Southern hospitality and culinary prowess. Originally from the South, Maude and her family brought their recipes and charm to the community, aiming for a better way of life.

As an integral part of the east side, Maude’s Alabama BBQ has garnered a loyal following and provides employment opportunities for local youth, fostering a strong sense of community and friendship in the area.

“They come by, just say hi. Not always to come in to eat, but catch up,” said Housley.

Maude’s Alabama BBQ’s Flint location on Sept. 25, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Maude’s Alabama BBQ, which opened in May 2019, has experienced significant growth since then. The restaurant’s house-made sauces have gained popularity in Michigan with sales not only at the restaurant but also through commercial and online channels.

The establishment has expanded with a second location in Lapeer, Michigan, and the sauces are available at local grocery stores for those unable to visit the restaurant.

Housley, Maude, and his father-in-law were not born in Flint. However, Housley’s wife was. Though they weren’t born in Flint, they have been here for most of their lives and consider themselves Flintstones. Being from the South and being well-acquainted with the colorful, eccentric culture makes the perfect recipe for success.

Housley passionately spoke about Flint, likening it to a superhero due to its endurance and fortitude. His words were an ode to a city he fell in love with while visiting his grandparents, aiming to replenish a place that gave him an abundance of fond memories.

Flintside caught up with Housely to learn more about Maude’s BBQ-rich history, the beauty of resilience, the power of family, and how he and his staff provide Southern hospitality on the east side of Flint. 

Maude’s Alabama BBQ’s sign captured on Sept. 25, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Flintside: What do you do for the community as a business?

Ron Housley: “During the holiday season, since we opened, we work with nonprofits to provide meals to families that need it and have fallen on tough times and can’t afford to get it themselves.” 

Flintside: What kind of food items are you guys famous for?

R. Housley: “So our top sellers are pulled pork, mac and cheese, chicken wings, and brisket. I’m a little biased [of the brisket] because I make it. I absolutely love it, but the same can go for the other items. We get people [that] come in just for our wings religiously. I’ve got customers from out of state. They come here to visit family, and when they come, they bulk order a brisket to freeze and take home with them. I once shipped the ingredients for 50 pork sandwiches to Pennsylvania to a customer [who] moved and missed our food. As for our sauces, the sweet and tangy barbecue sauce is the number one seller in the grocery stores.”

Flintside: What do the customers mean to Maude’s Alabama BBQ?

R. Housley: “From a business standpoint, they are our livelihood. Without them, we don’t have a business. But as the person that sees them every day, when they come in with their smiles on their face, seeing them on their good and bad days, getting to know who they are, where they come from, they’re like extended family, especially the ones that we get to see three times a week. We have a customer we see probably four or five times a week.”

Maude’s Alabama BBQ dining room on Sept. 25, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)
Flintside: Four to five times a week?!

R. Housley: “He has his own menu item because he orders the same thing. And then we have the ones that have become really good friends over the last five years that we’ve been here that we run into in public, and it’s always just a blessing to see them and get to talk to them, get to hear how they’re doing, and how their families are doing. They’re like family to us.”

Flintside: Can you tell us how your BBQ sauces became available in local stores?

R. Housley: “My father-in-law, we were doing the restaurants, and he said that people [were] asking can they buy the sauce because they’re not local. They couldn’t just come in and get some. And he was like, what if we bottled it? Could you make the logos? And I said I can make the logos. We worked with the FDA, got our FDA approval, figured out exactly what they needed us to do, and set up our room to make the sauce.”

Fiery house-made BBQ sauces captured on Sept. 25, 2024. (Anthony Summers | Flintside.com)Flintside: And all this started from the ground up?

R. Housley: “We make [every] bottle label and even stamp the dates. We got it all started from the ground up. We did our research on bottles and started going store to store. We would take a day off here or there, and instead of being in the restaurant, we would be going business to business, trying to earn these grocery stores’ business to carry our product. Now we are in roughly 150 local [and] independent grocery stores throughout the state.”

Flintside: To be young business owners, does doubt or imposter syndrome seep into the pitcher?

R. Housely: “That bias is real. When you hear of a business, you don’t think of younger people; you think of somebody who’s more established in life, right? We surprise people when they walk through the door. They tend to look for my parents. When [my wife’s] dad points towards me and my wife, it shocks them, but not in a bad way, in a good way. We’ve received a lot of positivity from people. They like to see young people taking on the world [as] entrepreneurs and starting businesses because it gives them a lot of pride. And it gives us a lot of pride to see how excited they are and how proud of us they are. We have such a great support system and such great people around us.” 

Flintside: Any call to action?

R. Housley: “Support your local businesses because that’s how they support you. If not us, any of them. If you shop local, that money stays local. If that money stays local, it comes back and supports your job, where you work.”

Flintside: What would Maude be most proud of?

R. Housely: “I think that her granddaughter, my wife, would be what makes her most proud. To see the woman she’s grown into and how she carries on her famous legacy of loving everyone with her entire being and her whole heart. As for the business, she’d be proud that we’re carrying on her name, doing her recipes right, and making sure nobody leaves hungry.”

To learn more about Maude’s Alabama BBQ, visit their website, find and follow them on Facebook, or call: (810) 875-9984.