A Family Tradition
story by Luke Franke
An Owensboro staple since the early 1950s, the Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn is synonymous with world-famous barbecue and hospitable family friendly service.
Moonlite started out as a tiny barbecue joint with only 30 seats, but has slowly evolved into an international operation and household name in the world of barbecue.
Recognized by regional publications such as Kentucky Living and Kentucky Monthly and even gaining global attention from the International Restaurant and Hospitality Rating Bureau, the folks at Moonlite have figured out the secret to success and customer appreciation.
Sure, their barbecue is utterly mouthwatering and the buffet is one-of-a-kind. But what really keeps the people coming back over and over again?
“Your glass won’t even be half empty and they’ll always fill it up,” says Larry Main, who drives in from Webster County to eat. “They’re good people. I drive 45 minutes to come here.”
Customers travel from all over the United States to try the restaurant’s food — especially the way they smoke and prepare the mutton, for which they are most famous.
John Husk and his wife, Dale, flew from Centennial, Colo., to visit a childhood friend in Owensboro, but they couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit Moonlite while they were in town. “We’ve heard so much about it we just had to come,” Dale said. “So far, the service has lived up to our expectations.”
Owensboro native Gene King has frequented Moonlite ever since Hugh and Catherine Bosley bought the restaurant in 1963.
“I still try to come every three to four weeks,” King said. “It has a very homey atmosphere.”
Serving close to a thousand customers a day, the employees at Moonlite aren’t merely co-workers. They are family members and friends who spend a majority of their time together. An employee for three years, Joe Whitefeather, 23, feels as though Moonlite is home.
“We all have each other’s back,” he said.
Many customers come for the food, but the restaurant’s success is a direct product of its employees, many of whom have worked at the restaurant for 15-plus years.
Referred to as “Momma” by many of the younger employees, Helen Kasey has worked as the day shift cook at Moonlite for 19 years.
“I enjoy cooking, but it’s the people that I stay here for,” she says.
Paula Mitchell has been working at Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn longer than anyone presently employed. Arriving every morning at 6:30, Paula begins to prepare the day’s vegetable platters for the buffet, catering and service menu. "I really enjoy my job," she says. "It keeps me busy, that’s for sure."
Peering over the edge of the famous all-you-can-eat buffet, Braxton Richards, 2, receives a helping hand to scoop green beans from his mother Britni. The two, along with Braxton’s father, Jonathan, live in Owensboro. "We don’t come here all that often, but we love it when we do," Britni says.
Robert Gardner, with his wife Lisa (left), reaches across the table to show his life-long friend John Husk a childhood photo. "We’ve been friends ever since I can remember," Robert says. Originally from Owensboro, John and his wife Dale flew from Centennial, Colo., to catch up with the Gardners, visit family and eat at Moonlite Bar-B-Q. "We’ve heard so much about Moonlite, we just had to try it for ourselves," Dale says "It has definitely lived up to our expectations."
A delectable cornbread muffin sits atop a plate full with barbecued pork, chopped mutton, candied apples, carrots and green beans. All were found on Moonlite’s popular buffet line.
Justin Loney, 21, (right) and Blake Sumner, 22, (middle) take a break from dish duties to sit down, relax and read a book. On a typical 8-hour shift the employees are given two breaks of 30 and 10 minutes.
(Top right clockwise) Shirley Overfield (top right clockwise) and her daughter Stacey McCarty, both from Owensboro, laugh over a meal with their friends, Norman and Sharon Boggess, who drove in from Madisonville to see a dermatologist. "I was here in 1962 and I’ve been coming here ever since," Shirley says.
Helen Kasey has worked the day shift at Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn for more than 19 years. At 61, she is often called "Momma" by co-workers, but underneath that good spirit, Helen is constantly reminded why she works as hard and as much as she does: her husband, Donald Kasey, 61, was diagnosed with leukemia nearly four years ago. "It’s not a burden to take care of him because I am helping him," Helen says. "I take the vows I made to him very seriously."
Maryann Ebelhar unloads a push cart from the back of her catering van en route to delivering food to a meeting for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. An employee for 15 years, Maryann works in the catering department. "Everyone gets along real well," she says. "It’s something different every day."
Looking to pass the time, Lexi Clements, 8, dances around the restaurant floor while her grandmother Gina Raley waits to pick up a carryout order for a family gathering. "I’ve been coming here ever since I can remember," Gina says.
Seen through a swinging door window, Carryout Supervisor Matt Roth, 23, chops up sliced pork in preparation for customer orders while Pit Crew member Clint Rhodes, 20, pushes a cart through the pit room to the back freezer.
Preparing the restaurant for the busy night ahead, Joy Coomes and Linda Humphrey, both Owensboro natives, sweep up the floors in one of the restaurant's four large dining rooms shortly after waiting on the last lunch customers. "We get to go home for a bit, but then we have to come back," Linda says.