About Us

Aunt Bea's Barbecue has been serving up mouthwatering barbecue since 1984. It all started when Fred Jones and Teddy Beaver teamed up to purchase three locations from Ray's Restaurants, a company also headquartered in Mount Airy, NC. These original locations included Sweet Sue's in Mount Airy and Galax, VA, as well as a Ray's Kingburger in Hillsville, VA. Over the years, the company grew, opening a Pilot Mountain, NC location in 1989 and expanding to Independence, VA in 2001, bringing their signature flavors to even more barbecue lovers.

Fred and Ted brought a wealth of restaurant experience to the venture. Fred previously opened the C.F. Jones Ole Tyme Ice Cream Parlor and founded the C.F. Jones Ole Tyme Ice Cream Company. Known for its wide variety of hard-dipped ice cream flavors, the parlor also served a range of sandwiches, giving Fred valuable experience in running a successful food business. Ted, on the other hand, worked his way up through the ranks of the Hardee’s fast-food chain, eventually becoming a district manager, honing his skills in operations, management, and customer service.