The owners of Parker’s Smokehouse say “Barbecue with Soul” is more than just a catchy phrase.
“We’re a soulful company,” said Jeff Parker. “We take a lot of pride in what we do. This is not an investment or a concept, this is what we do,” he said.
Jeff and wife Emily opened Parker’s just over a month ago in the former “Li’l Dickies’” location at 715 First Corso.
They say the community has welcomed them with open arms. “Customers say ‘we’re just glad you’re here,’” Jeff said.
“We have always loved Nebraska City. It’s a very eclectic place to be,” Emily said. “We’re glad to be here.”
In addition to Nebraska City, they own Parker’s in Lincoln and Ashland.
“We are in the restaurants every single day,” Jeff said. “We never miss an opportunity to be accessible to our customers.”
Service is a top priority for the couple, and they said their entire staff is mindful of this.
“We’re fortunate to have good people working for us,” Emily said. “We take really good care of them and they in turn take care of the people who come in,” she said.
The couple also takes pride in their menu and Jeff said the home-made food is one of their hallmarks.
“Everything on our menu has a little bit of history,” Emily added.
The artwork hanging on the walls also has history. With the help of the Historical Society and Roger Claussen, the couple acquired historic Nebraska City scenes which appear above each booth. The two say the’ve incorporated local history in their other restaurants as well.
“It’s very engaging,” Emily said. “We want people to be engaged, not just go out to eat.”
Jeff said along with the food and service, atmosphere is a top priority. The couple have a sidewalk cafe area in front of the restaurant for those who want to dine outdoors.
Inside, Jeff hand picks classic jazz and blues tunes for customers to enjoy while they’re eating. He said he won’t allow patrons to eat in silence or with commercials in the background.
“We want them to have fun,” Emily added.
Jeff said every effort is made to make dining at Parker’s a positive experience.
“People work hard for their money and we want them to know that we recognize that they choose to spend it here,” he said. “It’s a matter of doing it right for people.”
