Maryville's Boomerz BBQ & Grill not 'run-of-the-mill BBQ chain'

By Rick Laney
of The Daily Times Staff

The smell of smoke, seasoning and slowly cooking meat has become synonymous with the South — because the South loves its barbecue. While Memphis gets most of the attention in Tennessee, a new barbecue restaurant has staked its claim in Maryville, and it doesn’t even have the word “Bubba” in its name.

Boomerz BBQ & Grill at 1837 W. Broadway Ave is a true, competition-style barbecue joint. With a wide selection of pork, chicken, brisket and rib dishes, Boomerz is establishing a reputation with even the most discriminating barbecue connoisseurs.
Those familiar with the world of barbecue know that “the best” is an elusive title that sparks endless discussions, debates and arguments. It has been the subject of countless books and, currently, at least four cities and one whole state claim to be the BBQ capital of the world.

Although Boomerz BBQ & Grill is not located in a barbecue Mecca and opened just last month, owner Lee Williams is a legend in the local barbecue underground — and the reigning champion of the Townsend BBQ Cookoff.

For more than a decade Williams worked the plant floor at DENSO and operated Hickory Hillbillies, a barbecue catering business, on the side. With partner Adam Diamond, Williams stayed busy entering barbecue competitions and catering special events when he wasn’t manufacturing automotive components.
Backyard beginnings

“We’re just a couple of guys who started barbecuing in the backyard and got hooked on it,” Williams said. “We take a lot of time with what we do.

“Most of our barbecue cooks for 12 to 20 hours. It’s not fast, but you can definitely taste the difference.

“It’s not the run-of-the-mill BBQ chain, and we don’t want it to be. The difference is in how we prepare it.”

Award winning

With a hearty collection of ribbons, trophies and awards for the Hickory Hillbillies, Williams and Diamond decided it was time to give their barbecue business a permanent home. The closing of Alexandros Ristorante Italiano gave them a convenient location and seating for up to 110 customers.

“We totally renovated the inside of the restaurant,” Williams said. “We installed five LCD televisions so people could watch ball games and we put in a small bar area.

“People are responding well — business has been great and it’s growing daily.”
Boomerz BBQ & Grill serves a variety of appetizers, salads and sandwiches in addition to traditional pork barbecue, chicken barbecue, beef brisket and baby-back rib plates. The barbecue quesadilla and barbecue pizza are unique Boomerz twists on the smoky staple.

Most barbecue plates at Boomerz cost between $8 and $12 and sandwiches run from $5 to $8.50. Boomerz takes carry-out orders and continues to cater parties and special events.

While Memphis, Kansas City and the entire state of Texas are busy slugging it our for the title of barbecue capital of the world, Blount Countians would be better served busying themselves with a heaping mound of barbecue from Boomerz BBQ & Grill. Maryville may never get the title, but no one leaving Boomerz seems to care.

Originally published: October 03. 2007 3:01AM
Last modified: October 02. 2007 11:29PM