I like Bigg Buttz BBQ and I cannot lie: Black-owned, hidden gem catering business shows barbecue is 'more than food'

Feb. 16—A local Black man's success in the food industry highlights opportunity, helps the community and shows younger people that anything is possible.

TJ Ellington turned his lifetime love for barbeque into a thriving side business — Bigg Buttz BBQ — with award-winning food, in which no dish is like any other.

Bigg Buttz BBQ is a veteran-owned, Black-owned catering business based in Greeley, serving communities across northern Colorado. Customer interactions and positive feedback on his products are two things that make him want to wake up and smell the barbecue.

But he also recognizes the importance and influence his role has on the Black community.

Bigg Buttz's origin

Ellington grew up watching his dad cook, which is why he's been a barbecue fan since his first taste. He described his father as one of those people who could whip up a barbecue recipe from scratch — joking that he's still not as good on the grill as his dad.

"I still remember the first barbecue restaurant my parents took me to," Ellington said.

As an Air Force veteran, he said he's been fortunate enough to travel all over, meeting different people and eating different foods. But barbecue always remained number one in his heart.

After the military, Ellington moved around and worked numerous jobs. He said he never figured out exactly what he wanted to do for a living over the years, which resulted in him getting a job at the Greeley post office.

While employed at the post office, Ellington also started up his catering business.

"One day about seven years ago, a friend of mine threw in, "Why don't you do what you want in life and just make barbecue?'" Ellington said. "So that's how I started out on this on this path."

Although his dream of making barbecue for people came true, he said he's had to limit his side gig to a less than part-time job due to his full-time position as a mail carrier. However, in December, he is planning to retire from his more than a decade-long career at the post office to focus full-time on his passion in life: Bigg Buttz BBQ.

Ellington's notoriously humorous name for a barbecue business pays homage to rapper Sir Mix A Lot, from the pig logo to menu items that are named after his songs, such as his award-winning "Monsta' Mac" dish.

Along with bringing in his love for Sir Mix A Lot, Big Buttz BBQ differs from other barbecue food businesses, Ellington said. While a lot of places make hickory smoked meat, Ellington uses varying options, such as hickory, pecan and oak, for different types of meats. He also makes all his sauces from scratch.

"I want everything to have a different unique flavor," he said. "My biggest goal is that ... maybe you came out and you didn't like my pulled pork. But you're not going to say my pulled chicken tastes just like my pulled pork."

About three years ago, Ellington boosted his business by purchasing a trailer to cook his deliciously unique menu and partake in community events. In addition to catering, he offers "Lunch Dates," where his team alternates weekly on Wednesday between Greeley and Longmont.

Menus are provided the week before the truck comes to one of the cities. Orders must be submitted no later than the Sunday of the city's upcoming week.

Black success in the community

Ellington said every opportunity the world has to show a Black person — particularly a Black man — in a presupposition of success, helps the community. He's glad, especially as a man who didn't attend college, to serve as an influence to the younger people in the community and show that people of color can accomplish anything.

"America has always had a complicated history when it comes to race so it's important to show that, for lack of better terms, we are able to do this," he said.

While Ellington has been fortunate enough to start a business piece by piece at his own pace, he believes it's important to highlight that programs, small business loans and other helpful tools are available to people like him.

"People aren't always looking for a handout, they're looking for a hand-up," Ellington said.

Since his barbecue business began booming, Ellington said he's felt welcomed by the Greeley community and surrounding areas. Feedback from the people who have eaten his food has been phenomenal thus far, according to Ellington.

Bigg Buttz BBQ's top menu item, the Monsta' Mac, has won first place in two different mac and cheese competitions. The recipe is described as, "A variety of cheeses combined with our pulled pork, local farm-raised sausage, kickin' bits of jalapenos and chopped bacon bits. Finalized on the pit for a unique, smokey experience."

"That not only helped get the name out, but also I can tell you that when people taste it, they love it," Ellington said about his award-winning meal. "Odds are if you're in any type of food business, you're thrilled with that kind of response."

The most awarding aspect of the business isn't the awards, rather it's the customer interactions that never get old, according to Ellington. He loves to see people enjoying a meal while enjoying each other's company — showing that barbeque is more than just food.

"Barbecue is just a different type of thing," Ellington said. "It's not just food, it's an event. More often than not, if somebody's having barbecue, it's a family event."

Ellington is looking forward to celebrating the seventh anniversary of Bigg Buttz BBQ in August — only a few months away from when he can start focusing on his full-time BBQ career.

"I want my kids to be able to look at what I am doing and know that literally, anything is possible once you find something that you believe in," Ellington said.

For more information about Bigg Buttz BBQ, go to biggbuttzbbq.com.

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