Still Smokin’ BBQ on the market

By Editor | June 19, 2024 |

Doug Still pictured with his youngest daughter Hallie, during July of 2016 when RAGBRAI stopped in Mount Ayr, two months after opening Still Smokin BBQ.

Doug and Gina Still’s five year plan, which became a nine year plan, will soon be coming to an end.
Still Smokin’ BBQ is now for sale. However, Doug and Gina will stay for two more years if they are unable to find a buyer.

This is the second entertainment venue Doug has owned and operated in Mount Ayr.
Doug and his brother Ronche bought the plumbing shop and the South Side Tavern next door and opened “The Still.” It was located where the Princess Theater and rAyr are currently located today.
They punched a hole in the wall between the two buildings, so they could expand the space to accommodate live music and dancing in the corner building.

The Still was a popular hang out in the 90’s. Doug worked with a booking agency out of Kansas City to bring live bands to town. It was typical to draw a crowd of 200-300 people each weekend.
“Anybody that went to school in the 80’s would have visited,” Doug said.

They later sold the building and Doug started laying flooring.
“Ramsey bought The Still from us and sold it to Sandy Lamb,” said Doug.
It then became Peggy Sue’s Diner, and the Princess Theater was brought back to life thanks to grants and many generous donors.

After laying flooring for forty years, Doug returned to the business of serving good food.
Doug built his first smoker with Joe Love, and they got started by going to BBQ contests, entering competitions as “Still love getting smoked.”
“I decided I was ready for a change and bought the building on the square,” recalled Doug.
“He didn’t even tell me he was buying the building,” Gina laughed.
The building sat empty for two years before they bought it, and had operated as Ramsey’s Supper Club in the years prior.

Doug and Gina Still of Still Smokin’ BBQ in Mount Ayr.

RAGBRAI came through Mount Ayr two months after they opened in July of 2016, and a couple even got married at Still Smokin’ BBQ one day.
“Somebody showed up and got married,” recalled Gina, “It was about 20 people or so, they just showed up and got married.”

Now the couple have come full circle and are ready to retire so they can travel and give Doug a chance to see places he has not, before his Glacoma gets to a point where he cannot see.
The community has been exceptionally good to their business, so they would like to keep it going as long as they can.
They typically serve roughly 350 people each week, and as many as 500 a week during their busy season September through May.

Doug typically starts his days prepping meat around 5 a.m. and beginning the smoking process.
“If you own the restaurant you must be present and work to make it successful,” he says.
They both really hope that someone will take the restaurant over. Gina and Doug are willing to train a new buyer if they are interested in the restaurant staying similar to how it is operating now, and maintain their present methods.
“We’ll train anybody that would like it,” said Doug, “I want it to be successful for the town.”
They are refusing to close it down and walk away from it because it would not be fair to the community.
“I could fully retire in February of 2026,” says Doug, “but we’ll stay until April of 2026 if no one buys it.”
When he retires, the gun shop will close, as well.
“I’ve worked on bows and arrows since the 70’s,” said Doug. He worries there will no longer be anyone to work on archery equipment.

Posted in News