FAMOUS POOLE'S BAR-B-Q RESTAURANT REVIEW! THE PIG HALL OF FAME!

Music Credit: Sally Goodin' - Nat Keefe with The Bow Ties

Why are those pigs there anyway? Well, as the story goes, the way Oscar Poole, a pastor, and mayor Mack West tell it (he was the mayor in their founding, 1989, and approved their license as mayor still in 2023)… In the 1980s East Ellijay had an ordinance that did not allow signs of any kind on the four lane Highway. Colonel Oscar Poole had just started his BBQ stand and needed to get the word out to passers-by. He asked if he could have a sign and was denied.

Colonel Poole thought on it some, and then put a few wooden cutouts of pigs on the hill to draw some attention to his delicious Georgia BBQ. When Mayor West went to see him and tell him to take down the signs, Col. Poole simply stated, “Mack, those aren’t signs… those are pigs.” Mayor west was not amused at his friend Oscar’s defiance. Oscar responded by putting up more pigs and the fight went on.

As Mayor West tells it, that as the fight went on, he was in London, England for a business conference and was wearing a shirt that said East Ellijay on it. A fellow train passenger asked “Is that the town with the pigs on the hill?” Oscar’s pigs were officially world famous. When Mayor West got back he went to Oscar, looked up at the hill, looked back at Oscar and said “you know something? Those are pigs.” Mayor west then went to the city council convinced all but two members that those were not signs that they are, in fact, pigs. And the colonel got to keep his pigs.

Colonel Poole then came up with the idea to sell the pigs and spot for $10. Suddenly, he had the best “Sign” in the state and his customers were paying for it. Colonel Poole turned a problem into an opportunity.

You may ask, what do I have to do to get a pig on the hill? Colonel Poole would answer that “You have to have an honest face, a kind heart, and $10.” He would then pause, and say “If you have $10 the first two are negotiable” with a smile.

Same rules still apply and it is still just $10.

Founded in 1989 as a roadside BBQ stand by Edna and Oscar Poole, Col.Poole’s has defined North Georgia barbecue for the last 30+ years.

While pulled pork was the star of the show for many years, the menu has evolved to include the finest brisket, most tender chicken and turkey, smokey sausage and and sweet tender Duroc ribs.

From humble beginnings of a roadside stand, to quirky Pigs on the Hill, to the true restaurant found today, the Poole family has grown Col. Poole’s around quality and fun.

Run as a family business for 30 years, the new ownership has kept the integrity that made Pooles great while expanding the offerings.

Col. Poole’s Bar-B-Q is Family & Friends.

164 Craig Street, East Ellijay, GA 30540 • (706) 635-4100

https://www.poolesbbq.com/

Hours:
Mon - Thurs 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Fri - Sat 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am - 6 pm

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