FLORIDA

“I HAD A PERFECT RECORD.”

Image 28: A&B Bar-B-Q 7th Avenue & Highway 41 S • Jasper, FL 32052 • No Phone

Coleman Anderson had logged over a million miles, accident-free. Then one day he was unloading his rig and threw his back out. “I hurt my back unloading groceries,” he says shaking his head.

Coleman’s home is on Route 41 in Jasper, Florida, right in the middle of town. “I just sat home and with the help of some friends built a barbecue pit in my front yard. We just hung out and barbecued all day. Deer, wild hog, rabbit, gator—you name it, we probably cooked it.

“One day the health inspector showed up and told us we couldn’t sell meat without a license. Well, I wasn’t selling it, and he told us we should. He helped me out every step of the way. Helped with all the paperwork, told me to put on a roof, and a bathroom, helped me with the food management course. It took me a couple of times, but I passed it. It’s been fifteen years and I’ve passed every inspection. (Image 29)

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“Me and my buddies built this place. The bathroom was from a house that was being torn down. I don’t buy firewood. It just shows up. One time the tree guy just dropped a huge pile. The logs were too big. I had to track him down to cut them smaller.

“The only time I ever came close to getting in any trouble was when the police took exception to my sign that read, ‘If you bring it, we’ll smoke it.’ I added the word ‘meat,’ just so that nobody would get any wrong ideas,” Coleman adds with a chuckle.

A&B doesn’t have what you might call a “formal” dining area. What it does have is a majestic canopy of 150-year-old oak trees accented with Spanish moss hanging down. Just pull up a lawn chair or a log and enjoy.

A&B is a magnet for people. The locals stop by and make an afternoon of it. One guy was there mending the holes in his fishing net. He was not about to leave any time soon. Another stopped by to show off his new truck all assembled. All the while horns were constantly honking and people were waving. It would be rude to drive past and not acknowledge your friends and neighbors at A&B. (Image 30)

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