LOOKING BACK – Weirton Mayor Harold “Bubba” Miller, left, talks with Dee Jay’s founder Dewey Guida, recalling memories of the restaurant prior to Monday’s festivities. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — It was a celebration of legacy and community Monday, as guests and patrons gathered for an observance of Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs and Grille and the restaurant’s 20 years on Three Springs Drive in Weirton.

Opened in 1980 in a renovated former car wash on Pennsylvania Avenue, Dee Jay’s began as a disco, according to former owner Dewey Guida, who founded the business with his brother, the late J.J. Guida. After about six months, they shifted the focus, turning the disco into a restaurant and introducing Weirton to the ribs that would make them famous.

“If we had one product that was good, that’s all we needed,” Guida said, noting the ribs became popular, attracting not only local residents, but people from farther out into the Tri-State Area, including members of Pittsburgh-based professional sports teams.

It would take 21 years of that popularity before Guida decided to take the next big step by relocating to Three Springs Drive.

“Everyone was saying ‘Dewey, you need a bigger place,’ but there was nowhere to go,” he said, explaining that all changed after a call to then-Gov. Bob Wise, who offered a zoning change for the property which, at that time, had belonged to the State of West Virginia.

LEGACY – Dewey Guida, original owner of Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs and Grille, addressed the crowd gathered Monday to celebrate the restaurant’s 20 years on Three Springs Drive in Weirton. -- Craig Howell

City Manager Mike Adams, who served as the master of ceremonies for Monday’s presentations, observed, if it wasn’t for the move, it’s doubtful any of the later or ongoing development at the southern end of Three Springs Drive would have taken place.

“That was the linchpin,” Adams said. “Dee Jay’s blazed the trail.”

Guida closed the original restaurant location on March 30, 2004, holding a trial run on Three Springs Drive on March 31 through a fundraiser event for U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, who was then seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, and then opened the doors to the public on April 1 with 1,100 covers on the first day.

“From that time on, we were a cornerstone,” Guida said, noting the restaurant has built a legacy of being a part of the Weirton community through various fundraisers, donations to local organizations and more.

He couldn’t have done it by himself, though, offering appreciation to his wife, Karen, his family and all of the people who have worked at the restaurant over the years. He also recognized Mark Guon of Wichita Packing Company, which has provided Dee Jay’s with its ribs from the beginning.

RECOGNITION – Tony Ferraro and Chloe McMullen of Dee Jay’s receive a proclamation from Weirton Mayor Harold “Bubba” Miller, right, in honor of the restaurant’s milestone celebration. -- Craig Howell

Guon said he connected with Guida when he was first getting started in his family business, and they are thrilled to be a part of the Dee Jay’s success story.

“He knew exactly what he wanted,” Guon said, noting they worked together to devise the ribs served to meet Guida’s specifications on weight, shape and trim. “We were able to set up a program that’s never changed.”

Monday’s festivities included a presentation from Weirton Mayor Harold “Bubba” Miller, who recalled several instances where customers of Weirton Steel Corp. would come to the city for business, and leave with an order from Dee Jay’s, as well as proclamations from the offices of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va.

Under new ownership in recent years, Dee Jay’s has grown to now include locations in Washington, Wexford and Collier Township in Pennsylvania.

SPECIAL GUESTS – J.T. Thomas, left, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1973 to 1981, and Mark Guon of Wichita Packing Company, which has provided Dee Jay’s with its ribs for decades, were among the guests Monday. -- Craig Howell