Brothers Brent and Juan Reaves of Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que in Dallas are again releasing shoebox lunches for Black History Month. The restaurant first sold shoebox lunches in February 2020 and sold them again in June 2020 for Juneteenth.
The brothers wanted to educate patrons about the shoebox lunch concept, which arose during the Jim Crow era. Black people could not eat in white-owned establishments in the South, so they often carried their own lunches in actual shoeboxes. “Black Americans have always found a way to turn dark circumstances into bright spots,” they say in a statement.
This year, the boxes are focusing on “our progress and our future,” say the brothers. “Not only do Black Americans patronize restaurants and businesses without restriction today, we also own them. It may seem quaint to underscore the reality of Black entrepreneurship, but we do not take it for granted.”
The Shoebox Lunch: Black Entrepreneur Edition ($14.95 in store) will feature a sandwich and side as well as items from local Black-owned businesses, like a cookie from Cookie Society in Frisco, Mama Moore’s Gourmet Popcorn and even hand sanitizer from Urban Hydration. The online box ($49.95) is a sampler of items from Black-owned businesses that includes Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que Sauce, Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que Rub, Urban Hydration hand lotion, an Olphactory candle and more.
Featured sides for the in-store box include produce from Black farmers, such as spinach from Garland Hampton in DeSoto and purple hull peas from Tricia Ray of Candy Girl Chicks & Livestock. All boxes will also include a Then|Now commemorative booklet that highlights Black entrepreneurs of the past.
Boxes go on sale Feb. 1 and will be available throughout the month in store at 1820 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, and online at smokeyjohns.com.
