Soulman's Bar-B-Que, the family-owned Texas barbecue institution that has served legendary slow-smoked barbecue since 1974, expanded its East Texas footprint with the opening of its newest restaurant at 938 W. Main Street, Gun Barrel City, TX 75156. The community is invited to celebrate the Grand Opening on Saturday, September 26, featuring family-friendly activities, giveaways, and Soulman's signature Rib Eating Contest. Guests can enjoy a full afternoon of celebration featuring prizes, giveaways, exclusive food specials and the always-popular Rib Eating Contest, where local competitors will battle for barbecue bragging rights.

The opening also delivers on expansion plans that drew statewide attention earlier this year, when MySA described Soulman’s as a “North Texas BBQ empire” in its coverage of the planned Gun Barrel City restaurant. The description reflects a brand that has grown from a single Pleasant Grove restaurant in 1974 into a multi-location North and East Texas barbecue institution while remaining family-owned and focused on its original recipes, hospitality and value

"For more than 50 years, Soulman's has believed that great barbecue has a way of bringing people together," said Brett Randle, CEO of Soulman's Bar-B-Que. "That's why we're excited to join the Gun Barrel City community. We look forward to serving authentic Texas barbecue, welcoming our neighbors like family, and creating a place where memories are made around the table."

Grand Opening Celebration Details:

• Date: Saturday, September 26
• Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Location: 938 W. Main Street, Gun Barrel City, TX 75156
• Festivities Include:
• Soulman's famous Rib Eating Contest
• Prizes and giveaways
• Soulman's merchandise
• Special food offers
• Family-friendly activities

The new Gun Barrel City restaurant brings Soulman's award-winning menu to residents throughout the Cedar Creek Lake area, featuring slow-smoked brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, turkey and chicken, alongside the restaurant's beloved homemade sides and famous banana pudding.

That reputation has earned Soulman’s recognition well beyond its home communities. In recent years, the brand has been named among the Best Regional Barbecue Chains to Try at Least Once (2025), Best Roadside Restaurants in America (2024) and Top Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2024). Across its restaurants, Soulman’s also continues to emphasize the fundamentals behind those honors—great food, attentive service and a welcoming guest experience—while its 2026 company awards recognized individual locations for Best Food, Best Customer Service, cleanliness and operational excellence.

"Opening a new Soulman's is about more than serving great barbecue—it's about being part of the community," said General Manager Erik Rasmussen. "We can't wait to welcome our neighbors, get to know the families who walk through our doors, and build the kind of place where everyone feels at home around the table."

The Gun Barrel City location continues Soulman's steady growth across North and East Texas while remaining committed to the quality, hospitality and family values that have defined the brand for more than five decades.

About Soulman’s Bar-B-Que

For more than 50 years, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que has satisfied the hardest to please bar-b-que lovers….Texans!  Founded in Pleasant Grove, Texas, in 1974, Soulman’s had only a few simple goals—serve great Texas-style BBQ and offer friendly, sincere service.  With a focus on Faith, Food, and Family, Soulman’s passed-down recipes are still the foundation for the company’s success from their 8 different types of meat that are smoked “low & slow” over only hickory wood to their famous homemade sides, including Ranch house beans and Texas style cream corn! Throughout the years, this family-owned and operated company has remained true to its original strive for success and customer satisfaction and is honored to be considered one of the Best Regional Barbecue Chains to Try at Least Once (2025), Best Roadside Restaurants in America (2024), Top Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2024), the Best Bar-B-Que in Dallas for Takeout  & Delivery (2020), and one of the Best Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2018).

Soulman’s currently owns and operates 21 North and East Texas locations in Allen, Cedar Hill, Fort Worth, Forney, Garland, Greenville, Hurst Grapevine Highway, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mabank, Mansfield, Mesquite, Quinlan, Red Oak, Rockwall I-30, Rockwall Goliad, Royse City, Sulphur Springs, Terrell, and Van. To learn more about Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, visit them online at https://www.soulmans.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/soulmansbbq.

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