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called Gracie’s Family BBQ for a because they have had a positive because Gracie’s has such a strong
reason and live up to that name. experience. “A lot of people can philosophy in their perspective of the
make tasty food; it is about the personable dining experience as their
“The vast majority of the people who food just as much as it is about the foundation—with its amazing, friendly
walk into the restaurant, I staff who can remember people by
know them all,” Ken Ingersoll name and by order (they will make
said, who is the owner your order right and you happy)—their
behind Gracie’s, and knows traditional roots speak to the human
the stories of many of his condition in that we all need to
customers who have come socialize, whether we want to or not.
in on good and bad days.
Visit Gracie’s at historic downtown
Eating a delicious meal Vallejo on 1801 Sonoma Boulevard;
brings people from all they do breakfast, lunch, dinner; and
places and diversities they carry desserts, beers, and wine.
together in a unique It is open Tuesday through Friday from
way—no matter the 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9
kind of day—in that it is a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m.
something that we can to 8 p.m., and is closed on Mondays.
all enjoy together as a whole. I, for community,” Ingersoll said. He really You can also visit them online at
example, was just at Gracie’s the emphasized how the people and graciesbbq.com to see a full menu,
other day, and the man sitting next our community make the place, not read additional information, and
to me struck up a conversation (I the other way around. “I remember I inquire about catering. Give them
Gracie’s Family BBQ As an icebreaker, we talked about daughter—the restaurant’s named to follow them for updates.
was sitting in the dining room with my
have never met this man before).
a “like” on Facebook @Graciesbbq
after my daughter, Grace—and it was
on a day when we were closed, so
their famous iced tea (no pun
James Quinn lives in Benicia and
intended), “Swamp Juice.” For
Academy in Vallejo. A UC Davis
said. “She’s looking around and says,
those who have yet to taste Swamp everything was shut down,” Ingersoll teaches at Elmer Cave Language
alumnus in English, he now
Juice, it is half sweet tea and half ‘You’re right, this is just a building; studies education as part of Touro
University’s Master’s in Education
lemonade over ice in a Mason jar it’s nothing without the staff, and it’s program. Along with teaching,
(the fact that the drink is in a Mason nothing without the customers.’” he tutors and writes often. He
is working on a novel that takes
jar somehow makes it taste better, place in Benicia. See his website
By James Quinn perhaps since it gives it a greater Of course, no restaurant is perfect at mrquinnj.weebly.com.
sense of authenticity that is tribute to or easy to run for so many years, but
ummer is quickly around the corner and great, sunny weather calls for how many people should be drinking
BBQ season. Chances are that you have surely had the delicious food iced tea right). Oh, and there is also
the amazing Strawberry Swamp
over at Gracie’s Family BBQ in downtown Vallejo, on the corner of Sonoma Juice, which is a seasonal item that
S Boulevard and Virginia Street, or you have at least heard about it. only runs from June to the end of
October. After talking about Mason
Gracie’s is clearly known for their It is important to realize that since the dining experience among the jars and iced tea, I learned that this
Southern-inspired BBQ food, such Gracie’s is a small business, it does community (I am not talking about man often comes from Vacaville to
as their tender ribs, beef and things differently than corporate a formal dinner but rather everyone eat at Gracie’s, even by himself—yes,
chicken sandwiches. It is a small restaurants, namely in how it interacts eating at the table together): eating it really is that amazing, and if you
business that has a homey indoor with its community, such as carrying a meal face-to-face, meeting new frequent Gracie’s, you know what I am
atmosphere and beautiful outdoor local products like Moschetti’s people, and running into familiar talking about—their food has people
patio, which has had many fun Coffee (roasted right in Vallejo), faces. Whereas you can order to go, coming back beyond city limits.
memories of live outdoor music. catering at local schools, company you will not see them as a part of any
Overall, Gracie’s has been a staple events, family events, and so forth. of the food-ordering applications While people come back for
to our community for nearly 20 years (e.g. DoorDash and GrubHub) Gracie’s great food, the real and
since it opened on December 15th, Community is especially true in how because they intentionally want more compelling reason people
1999, right before the millennium. they prioritize the social aspect of people more connected—they are return, when you think about it, is

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