BBQ Smokewagon
Henry Marizetts, Owner
245 Farmdale Road
East Peoria, IL 61601
After driving trucks and building smokers for a living, Henry Marizetts decided to follow his passion and do what he likes to do best, smoking meats.
During October of 2019, Henry opened his first-generation, family-owned restaurant featuring meat that is smoked daily and homemade side dishes.
“The smell tells it all,” said Henry with a smile.
This statement also hints at Mr. Marizetts’ Greenville, Mississippi roots.
Henry offers three main points on a mental checklist when going into business:
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Do your homework.
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Make sure you have funding; know that it is hard for a Black person to get.
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Get your recipes together.
This restaurant owner has wisely used his unique location at the former Sonic’s in East Peoria to host a weekly car show on Fridays from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. featuring both older models and new whips. Henry’s future goals include offering live blues and jazz bands. Mr. Marizetts also owns a food truck that he uses to “meet and greet” potential customers.
Henry’s wife is his right-hand and his Mother is his biggest supporter. He wants potential customers to know that this is a family-owned business, not a franchise. The Marizetts are working hard to provide quality bar-b-que as a healthier choice than a national franchise.
“The smile on people’s faces when they taste my bar-b-que, that’s my ultimate goal,” said Henry.
