JohnTom’s Barbecue, BE’s Beauty, and Tailored Technology are 3 prominent Black-owned businesses in Muncie.
Lathay Pegues: JohnTom’s Barbecue
Lathay Pegues remembers waking up to the sweet and tangy smell of his grandfather John Tom Branson’s barbecuing. He’d often get up early and cook for the whole neighborhood using his secret recipe. His grandfather passed away when he was 11 years old, but some of Lathay’s fondest memories of him involve that famous barbecue recipe.
“I spent a lot of time around my grandpa growing up,” he says. “And so I was kind of embedded in this barbecue culture.”
One weekend, Lathay, then attending Indiana University, was barbecuing and decided to see if he could recreate his grandfather’s recipe. This started a five-year experimentation process, trying to get all the ingredients just right. Lathay never exactly recreated his grandfather’s sauce, but he discovered something new in the process: he’d made his own delicious creation. So delicious, in fact, that it could be bottled and sold.
Lathay and his business partners, Terrell Cooper and Rodney Robinson, started JohnTom’s Barbecue sauce in 2006, combining his grandfather’s name to create their brand. They bottled three distinct flavors: JohnTom’s Original, Hoosier Heat, and Sneaky Hot.
They did a test run at the Indianapolis Black Business Expo in July of 2006, where they gave out free samples and had some bottles ready to sell, just enough to gauge public opinion.
By the end of the day, only three bottles remained.
“All I can say is, by the end of the first day, there was no question we had a product that people were raving about,” he says.
Since that day, business has taken off. JohnTom’s Barbecue is sold in over 100 stores, including select Kroger and Target locations. It’s used by restaurants and has accounts with Ball State University and Indiana University. It’s been reviewed by Food Network chefs such as Pam Ward and barbecue aficionados alike. In 2017, JohnTom’s Barbecue was named Indiana’s favorite barbecue sauce by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.
JohnTom’s Barbecue is part of the new Muncie chapter of the Black Chamber of Commerce. Lathay said the experience of starting the chamber and the outpouring of community support the project has received is inspiring. He says he’s grateful to the Muncie community for supporting his business.
“I just want to give back to my community and hopefully can grow this business to where I’m hiring Muncie residents, and I’m gainfully employing Muncie residents,” he says.
Bernisa Elliott: BE’s Beauty
When Bernisa Elliott started BE’s Beauty 16 years ago, there was only one hair salon that primarily served minority women in the Muncie area.
She wanted to give minority women another option, so she opened BE’s Beauty, which specializes in selling wigs, extensions, and hair supplies.
Since then, BE’s Beauty has been open for over a decade, built a loyal customer base, and expanded into a hair salon and beauty bar next door.
“I love my customers, and just the satisfaction that I get from them coming in feeling some type of way or wanting a new look,” she says. “And for me to be able to assist them just to get a new look and just help them on their journey.”
Bernisa says the coronavirus shutdown in March was a challenge for her business, but she was surprised at the amount of regulars who supported her and kept coming back for curbside pickup.
Many of her regulars were still excited to get their hair done and wanted to take a look at new arrivals. Bernisa was committed to them, holding up products through the windows of her store for them to view. She says she believes her customers remained loyal to her business because beauty is more than just looking good.
“Whatever it is for each woman, when you achieve that look, then you just feel better and have a little extra pep in your step,” she says.
Like Lathay, Bernisa is also a member of the Muncie Black Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about helping her community and giving opportunities to other minority-owned businesses.
“That’s the whole purpose is to bring these businesses to the forefront and to let not just minorities know this is what we have, and this is what’s available for us by us, but also just Muncie as a whole,” she says. “There’s some great businesses and entrepreneurs there, and a lot of people don’t even know about it.”
George Foley Jr.: Tailored Technology
George Foley Jr. has big plans for his Muncie small business.
“I’m kind of good about thinking outside the box. Muncie is small, but I sometimes have a big city mentality, and I think we need to think bigger than the size of our table,” he says.
The Muncie graphic designer and owner of graphic design business Tailored Technology says his favorite part of his job is being able to help other businesses succeed.
George saw a surge in business when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
“It really boomed to a whole other level,” he says. “Because people needed the technology. They wanted to be more visible.”
George started Tailored Technology in 2011 after graduating from Ball State University with a degree in marketing, followed by a Master’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. He noticed there were very few minority designers in the Muncie area, and he wanted to make a difference.
George says he saw a lot of success when Tailored Technology designed public relations materials and advertisements for the NAACP state conference in Muncie in 2018. That was when people really started to see his work and ask what he could do for them, according to George.
Since then, George has designed websites for the Health Coalition of Delaware County, First Choice Electric, and Terry Whitt Bailey’s Campaign for Muncie mayor, among many others. George says his work with Whitt Bailey’s campaign was one of his favorite moments so far.
“She just let me use my own creativity, and she trusted me with the project,” he says. “And she came that close to being the first African American woman to be the mayor of the city, and she always would tell me that I was a big part of that almost happening for her.”
Also a member of the Muncie Black Chamber, George says he’s proud to serve the Muncie community.
“I saw a need for [this business] in Muncie because I want to see this city grow back to what it was when I was younger,” he says. “And whatever I can do to help a business grow, and of course hire more employees, which helps our city, that was the passion that I had.”
