Have you seen this? Take a moment to watch it if you haven't. We all have our opinions about the presidential race, and who deserves to win, but this post isn't about that. Instead, we want to address the closing of Bill's Barbecue. First and foremost, we're sorry to see any local business, especially one with such a long history in the area, shut its doors. But we have to wonder if pointing the finger at presidential policies makes sense in this situation. Did Bill's Barbecue really go out of business because of the economy? Sure, we're in a recession, but people have to eat. The RVA Mag offices are near the Diamond, and as those of you who come through this neighborhood know, there were not one but two Bill's Barbecue locations within easy driving distance. And yet, it always seemed like people in this part of town, when they wanted barbecue, went to the other barbecue joint in the area: Buz And Ned's. In fact, Buz And Ned's is notorious for its long lines, especially during lunch hour. But people seem to feel that it's worth it--many Richmonders (and Food Network TV hosts) will attest to the quality of their barbecue. Meanwhile, a few blocks in either direction, the two Bill's Barbecue locations never had more than a few cars in their parking lot. This leads me to believe that the economy wasn't really the problem here. But what do you think? Are we overlooking some hidden factor? Did any of you think Bill's was the best barbecue in town? Watch the commercial and give us your opinion in the comments.
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