BRYAN, Texas — C&J Barbeque has announced that Chip Manning, one of the original founders of the BBQ restaurant, has passed away from throat cancer at the age of 72.
In 1981, Chip and his wife Jo bought a small run-down gas station on Harvey Road near Highway 30, and shortly after opening began to sell barbeque. In 1997, the couple chose to convert the store to a deli-style restaurant and lean into the craft that they had spread their name and business across the Brazos Valley.
By the early 2000s, C&J's barbeque had added a second location in Bryan, with a third location being established in 2006 at Southwest Parkway and Wellborn in College Station. The restaurant has been a recipient of a number of awards, including the Reader's Choice Award for Best BBQ in the Brazos Valley many years since 2000, and the Newman 10 Award in 2001 for the fastest growing small business.
The restaurant's Facebook post notifying the community of Chip's passing can be found below.
"We lost a legend.
Chip Manning, our father, husband, and friend to so many, passed from this earth yesterday after a brave fight with throat cancer. If you don't know, the "C" in C&J's stood for Chip. If you knew him then you know it also stood for clever, champion for others, and yes, sometimes class clown.
Chip loved two things in this world the most: his family and great barbeque.
Man, he loved barbeque something fierce. The taste of it of course, and the challenge of getting it done just right so that it fell off the bone and straight onto the plate before you could even take a bite. But most of all he loved the way barbeque brought people around the table. All kinds of people from all walks of life. His special place was walking around his restaurants talking to customers, telling animated stories, and making sure everybody had everything they needed.
We will miss him dearly. But his legacy will live on. RIP Chip Manning. You were a real one. Save a spot at that big banquet table for us. We know you'll have something fantastic on the pit when we meet again."
Visitation services will be held on Thursday at Hillier in Bryan from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., with a celebration of life ceremony taking place the day afterward, on Friday, at 12:30 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Click here to read Chip's full obituary.
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