When Bryan and Kari Luke opened Luke’s One Stop in Cissna Park, Illinois, they had ulterior motives. Sure, they wanted to operate a successful and friendly convenience store, but they also were looking for a home for their real passion: barbecue.
Forty years and dozens of BBQ awards later, patrons can experience a robust collection of homemade foodservice, including barbecue, pies, goulash and pizzas made from scratch. On weekends, Luke’s One Stop sells 50 to 60 pies per night.
“We built a commercial kitchen next door to the store and can churn out 120 racks of ribs at a time,” she said. “When they see it’s homemade, it makes customers happy, and brings them back.”
“When they see it’s homemade, it makes customers happy, and brings them back.”
In place of digital menu boards, Kari Luke and staff craft hand-written boards, updated daily. That’s where customers can see daily specials such as “Monday Pork sandwiches,” plus brisket, rib tips, burnt ends, homemade beef noodle soup, lasagna, potato salad, homemade pasta and broccoli salad.