That Meshack’s goes all the way back to South Dallas in 1978 and is now run by Travis Mayes and wife Donna Mayes, daughter of founder James Meshack. The new Meshack’s, however, is owned by Willie Meshack Jr., a nephew of the late James Meshack, and he’s making it clear that his restaurant, which has a menu heavily influenced by his wife’s Trinidadian roots, has nothing to do with the barbecue spot that’s been in his family for decades.
The Zoey’s Pulled Pork Sandwich with apple coleslaw is served on Trinidadian fry bake bread at Meshack’s Texas BBQ in Plano, TX, on Feb. 18, 2022. Willie Meshack said he chose to put “Est. 1978″ on his logo since that’s the year his father, Willie Meshack Sr., opened Meshack’s Bar-B-Cue Shack with his brother James, but that’s disputed by Travis and Donna Mayes, who say James Meshack opened and operated the original barbecue shack on his own. Willie Meshack Sr. operated the family’s adjoining liquor store, they said.