Starting a small business takes a lot of work.
Sharcia Carter, owner of Dis N’ Dat BBQ, is not stranger to the little sleep paired with long hours.
Carter didn’t start out winning the stomachs of the public. Looking through at her work history, she’s worked quality control for a factory and worked at a pork plant for almost five years.
It was there that she familiarized herself with the different cuts of the animal. Carter didn’t stop at the 9-5.
Before officially opening the doors in late September of 2020 she catered from her home for four years.
When thinking of a name for her business, Carter drew inspiration from her family.
“Girl, you do a little of this and a little of that,” Dorothy Johnson, Carter’s sister-in-law said.
And Carter agreed.
“I didn’t stick to one thing, I always wanted to do something different,” Carter said. “So I had to put my own little spin on it. That’s where it came from, the variety.”
Through the Dis N’ Dat Facebook page, you can see the love and attention she gives to not only her food but her customers as well.
To her, they are family.
“We specialize in BBQ, so rib tips are really popular.” Carter said. “People love our stuffed baked potatoes, signature baked mac n cheese and baked beans. Our soul food menu is becoming more popular, because we don’t have a lot of variety in our area”
Located at 112 East Congress, Downtown Rantoul, Illinois, you’re not just guaranteed good service but great food.
Carter was honored to have Dis N’ Dat chosen as the Best Start Up by BuyBlack Chambana via popular vote.
“To even be nominated, to even be mentioned, was enough for me; but to actually win it? Honey you just don’t know,” Carter said. “You have no idea what that did for me. And for it to be by us? Honey, that was the icing on the cake.”
In response to the award, Carter wanted to make sure her patrons knew how grateful she truly was.
“I am so grateful for the outpouring of love and support. I am grateful to see that they saw anything in us to even consider us for it,” Carter said. “I never thought it would be me. I’m still in awe. I’m going to try to stand up to it. Everyday I get to get up and stick that key in that door, and go in there and turn on them aisles and put something in them pots or load that smoker for every customer that comes through that door. Every time I hear somebody say they enjoyed something or that they can’t wait to or we get an opportunity to help somebody else, to even be in that position, especially now during the pandemic, folks don’t have to support you or folks don’t have to appreciate you so when they do, I don’t take it for granted. I’m just grateful.”
Carter wants us all to come get a plate but continue to be safe, so she continues to abide by CDC and state social distancing guidelines.
Have you had Dis N’ Dat BBQ? Leave a review in our online business directory here.
Starting a small business takes a lot of work. Often long hours and little sleep trying to get the finer details of products ready. Sharcia Carter, owner of Dis N Dat BBQ, is no stranger to that hard work. [I’ve always had a drive to want to work for myself, I’ve always been somebody that uses whatever I can do for myself as a means of support.] From the beginning of our interview speaking with Ms. Carter felt like I was talking to one of my aunties. (So from now on, she will be Auntie Sharcia). Auntie Sharcia didn’t start out winning the stomachs of the public. Looking back at her work history we see that she’s worked quality control for a factory, and at a pork plant for four and a half almost five years where she familiarized herself with the different cuts of the delicious animal. Auntie didn’t stop at the 9-5 though. [I’ve always had some kind of side hustle. But out of all of them, I’ve found being in my kitchen as a kind of solace.] before officially opening doors in late September of 2020 she catered from her home for four years. Auntie is truly dedicated to her craft.
I bet you’re wondering, Dis N Dat? Where’d that come from? As with all things, it came from family. Auntie Sharcia adapted the name [It came from my sister-in-law, I didn’t stick to one thing, always wanted to do something different. [sister-in-law] said, “Girl you do a little of this and a little of that.” So I had to put my own little spin on it. That’s where it came from, the variety.] The energy she radiated was welcoming and through the Dis N Dat Facebook page, you can see the love and attention she gives to not only the food she cooks but also how she interacts with customers. They are family.
Touching on the topic of food; I was practically salivating as Auntie Sharica listed off popular menu items. [We specialize in BBQ so rib tips are really popular. People love our stuffed baked potatoes. Signature baked mac n cheese, baked beans. Pretty much anything on the menu sells. Our soul food menu is becoming more popular, because we don’t have a lot of variety in our area] So you’re guaranteed good service and great food.
Auntie Sharcia was beyond humbled and honored to have Dis N Dat chosen as the Best Start Up and winning the popular vote thinking, [“How were we nominated? We’ve only been open a couple of months!”] Auntie took the opportunity and appealed to her patrons and when she won, she was shocked. [“To even be nominated, to even be mentioned, was enough for me; but to actually win it? Honey you just don’t know. You have no idea what that did for me. And for it to be by us, honey that was the icing on the cake.” ] Auntie is very excited about the win and can’t wait to meet Mariah.
Have you had Dis N Dat BBQ? Leave a review in our online business directory here.
