History of Leonard's
Dan Brown, from an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, in 2008
Welcome to Leonard’s
One of America’s famous restaurants…
Leonard’s Pit Barbecue opened in 1922 when founder Leonard Heuberger bartered a Model T Ford for a 7-stool sandwich stand in South Memphis. In 1932, he moved to his 1140 S. Bellevue location, which he enlarged several times over the years as demand grew for his barbecue food specialties. In the 30’s he offered food delivery by bicycle, and pioneered today’s popular take-out, and catering services. In the 40’s and 50’s Leonard’s was the world’s largest barbecue drive-in restaurant with 20 car-hops serving the daily parade of patrons who parked under the canopies. The photographs on our walls give you a look at the yesteryears at Leonard’s…and Memphis…where Leonard’s has, since 1922, been the symbol of the highest quality standards of food and service in the pork barbecue capital of the world.
1922 – Leonard’s Opens at Trigg & Latham
Leonard Heuberger launched a tiny 7‑stool lunch stand at Trigg and Latham in South Memphis, selling chopped pork sandwiches for as little as 5¢. A Model T Ford was traded for the location.
1932 – Leonard’s Relocates to Bellevue & McLemore
Ten years later, Leonard’s moved about half a mile to South Bellevue at McLemore, evolving into a drive‑in restaurant with carhops under canopies. Delivery via bicycles was started in the 30’s.
1940s–50s – High‑volume Carhop Era
At its peak, Leonard’s had ~20 carhops working Sundays, when the neighborhood street would fill with families flooding in for dinner. Sandwiches were just 25¢ each by the mid‑1940s.
1962 – Dan Brown Starts Working at Leonard’s
Dan Brown started slicing onions and cleaning toilets at the age of 14. His family went to church with the Heuberger family at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Whitehaven.
Elvis Presley was a regular; the restaurant reportedly shut down to serve him privately at night, and his tips of $100 for servers and $50 for staff became local lore.
1987 – Fox Plaza Drive Opens
Leonard’s opens the location at Fox Plaza Drive on August 15th of 1987.
1993 – Ownership Passes to Dan Brown
After 30 years of working there, Brown purchased the brand and building, preserving the Leonard’s legacy. He used to joke now that he owned the place, he still had to cut onions and clean toilets.
2000s–2010s – Buffet, Local Fame & Memphis Legends
The Fox Plaza location became known for its buffet—chopped pork, ribs (on select days), catfish, spaghetti, wings, slaw, and more. Customers raved about the sweet rib sauce and signature mustard‑vinegar slaw.
June 2021 – Leonard’s is Purchased by the Owners of Gus’s Fried Chicken
Facing financial hardship from the COVID‑19 pandemic, Brown sold Leonard’s (both the brand and building) to the owners of Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. Gus’s pledged to preserve Leonard’s traditions.
2023 – Leonard’s Relocates to Germantown Parkway in Cordova
Leonard’s announced the move from 5465 Fox Plaza Drive to 1100 N Germantown Parkway in Cordova, with the goal of expansion and replicating Leonard’s style elsewhere.
Customer Memories
Memories From You!
“Hope to Return”
“Growing up in Memphis from 1948-1957, my parents used to take my brother and sister and me to Leonard’s BBQ. I remember to this day the special smells that emanated from inside the place. I remember that the waitresses and waiters who came to our car and took our order, never wrote anything down. They always remembered the order and probably never got it wrong. We moved to Florida in 1957. One day I hope to return to Memphis and have some good ole Memphis BBQ at Leonard’s.”
Barry White
“Hang in there Leonard’s, you are the best”
“I was born and raised in Memphis. From the age of 17 to 21 I spent a many Friday and Saturday night at Leonard’s at Bellevue and South Parkway having white pig sandwiches with chocolate milk. Back then they had dark or white meat sandwiches. We always tried to park back by the smoker because it smelled so good. Hang in there Leonard’s, you are the best.“
Bill Linyard
“Nothing can top my memory of Leonard’s”
“With all the news about the floods threatening Memphis, I keep recalling the good times I enjoyed in that city. Growing up in Coldwater, Mississippi, it was a treat for us to load up the 56 Ford Fairlane and head to Memphis for shopping, baseball and food. The best barbecue I ever had was at Leonard’s Drive-in, circa 1959. I still recall the coins in the floor tiles, chopped pork sandwiches, the bean pot and, to top it off, lemon ice box pie. I live in Louisiana now, and enjoy its great food, but nothing can top my memory of Leonard’s. It is good to know that you are alive and well, after all these years.“
Mike Young
“I remember the brown paper bag…”
“I was born in Memphis in the early 50s, and my whole family enjoyed Leonard’s when we lived there. Within a few years we moved to KC, but always longed for Memphis BBQ . My dad’s job required him to travel nearly every week, and one memory we all have is him stopping at Leonard’s whenever he was on his way to the airport in Memphis to pick up BBQ to bring back to KC on the plane. I remember the brown paper bag (with just a bit of sauce staining the bag), the smell and taste of the meat (the smell must have driven the other folks on the plane crazy), and how happy we all were to have fabulous Leonard’s BBQ.“
James Mueller
Hours
Monday:
Closed
Tues - Sun:
11:00AM to 7:00PM