Owner Roger Aston (r) and Kayleigh Winne will tell you their special sauce is the secret to the delicious pulled pork sandwiches at the Iron Pig BBQ in South Glens Falls.
By Pamela Fisher
Seated in the clean and cheery dining room of Iron Pig BBQ, located at 134 Saratoga Ave. in South Glens Falls, it is easy to see why the small business is thriving.
Customers, both new and returning, are cheering as their food arrives to their tables. “We doubled our business this summer,” stated owner, Roger Aston, a Missouri native who greets his customers by name, and offers “on-the-house” dessert to a patron who frequents the eatery. After watching a man quickly devour pulled pork and potato salad, Aston sent him home with two huge servings of chocolate cake, homemade my Aston’s wife, Susan.
“He’s been with me since week one,” stated Aston of the customer. “We like to support our customers because they support us.”
Iron Pig BBQ is winning customers over with their “authentic southern BBQ,” offering pulled pork, spare ribs, beef brisket, chicken, and sausage and peppers. The restaurant also makes traditional sides, homemade desserts, and its own signature BBQ sauce which can be purchased by the bottle. A family-friendly business, the restaurant offers free meals to children five and under, and free brisket fat dog treats. Whether customers dine in or take-out, Aston assures his BBQ is “the real Southern deal” where meat is dry-rubbed only, then served with the eatery’s signature sauce. Though time-consuming, Aston prides himself on providing the very best food to his customers.
“A short day for me is twelve hours,” reported Aston, who indicated it is not uncommon to put in 18-24 hour days when catering for special events and parties. “Small business owners need to put in the hours they need to put in to make your customers happy.” Prior to launching Iron Pig BBQ, Aston had worked as an engineering consultant for paper industries, including Kadant Technologies. His work required frequent travel and prompted his family to relocate five times in 22 years. Eager to “sleep in his own bed at night,” and settle near Susan’s hometown of Glens Falls, Aston started thinking of opening his own business.
“I had searched for acceptable BBQ in the area, and I couldn’t find it,” stated Aston, “Growing up in St. Louis, I had always made my own sauce and served BBQ to friends and family, who loved it. I told my wife I wanted to open my own place. She told me I was crazy.”
Aston’s idea became a reality, though, and in January 2011 he opened the doors of the catering business and restaurant, developing a steady clientele throughout the winter months. A true family affair, Susan opened a gift shop, The River Road House and Garden Boutique, behind the restaurant. As word-of-mouth advertising increased, and the establishment offered outdoor dining in the warmer months, Aston grew even busier. Iron Pig’s central location brought in workers from nearby companies, and Aston built relationships with local employers such as General Electric, Irving Tissue, and Glens Falls Hospital. Residents from South Glens Falls were also frequent customers, and Iron Pig prioritized giving back to the community, donating all their recycling to South High Hockey, for example, and participating in local fundraisers.
Iron Pig BBQ has catered graduation parties, weddings, company picnics, personal parties, and fund-raisers, among other events. Serving parties of all sizes, the business is willing to travel outside the area, as needed, and Aston can create customized menus. For example, Iron Pig BBQ is catering “Lunch for a Cause in Glens Falls” on Friday, September 14th at the Glens Falls Branch of the Hudson River Community Credit Union, offering a lunch of pulled pork, side and soda for $7.50 to benefit pediatric hospitals. For more information about Iron Pig BBQ, call 518-636-5707 or visit their website at www.ironpigbbqrestaurant.com.