Douglas George is no stranger to Wetumpka or barbecue but his journey to open a restaurant has taken some time.
George is a native in Wetumpka and started to move back to Wetumpka about five years ago with a mission.
“This is a dream of mine,” George said. “It didn’t just happen. You get a dream and have to pursue it to bring it into fruition.”
Cliff Williams / TPI D’s Rib Q owner Douglas George, second from left, greets guests at the restaurant’s ribbon cutting including Rebecca Spier, left, Marilyn Hawkins, Mayor Jerry Williams and Shellie Phelps
More than 25 years ago, George started cooking ribs in and around Lansing, Michigan. About 17 years ago he started cooking for a Juneteenth organization and perfected his skills to serve crowds. Now D’s Rib Q is open on Holtville Road just a couple miles from downtown Wetumpka. George is hoping his hometown has the same reaction to his ribs.
“The folks in Michigan loved them,” George said.
George is no stranger to Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis.
“He and I have been friends for many years,” Willis said. “You don't have many true friends like this guy.”
Willis was 17 when he met Roscoe and Jettie George, Douglas’ parents.
“I couldn’t keep the truck out of the ditch,” Willis said. “I had to get my truck pulled out of the ditch in front of their house.”
But it wasn’t a tow truck that pulled Willis’ truck from a ditch. It was a mobile version of the grocery store that once occupied the same space as D’s Rib Q.
“A rolling store pulled me out of the ditch,” Willis said. “It used to go out in the county and you could buy off of that. You could get kerosene, chickens, pretty much anything. That is what pulled me out of that ditch.”
It’s the same sense of family and community George wants to bring to his restaurant.
“I just want something the community can enjoy and use as a way to get together,” George said.
Willis said that mentality was used by George’s parents and grandparents decades ago.
“The George and Mitchell families have been very important to the development of Wetumpka,” Willis said. “We are not the same Wetumpka we used to be. We are a better Wetumpka. The reason we are a better Wetumpka today, we’ve learned to love one another.”
With that love and appreciation of Wetumpka, Willis believes the community will appreciate the food and community George will serve up.
“He was successful up there,” Willis said. “I think he will be here too.”
D’s Rib Q is currently serving to-go orders as there is still some construction in the dining room. George hopes to have dine-in options available in the next couple of months.
