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The Chamber
Small Business Spotlight

Bruce Terri Catering & Drive-In

Pop quiz.  Name one thing that the following celebrities/public officials have in common: Ringo Starr, Willie Nelson, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and former Congressman Asa Hutchinson.  Give up?  They have all been served catfish, barbecue, and hamburgers cooked up by Chuck Peacock and the gang at Bruce Terri Catering & Drive-In.

The Bruce Terri story began in 1961 when Bill and Peggy Shopfner purchased a restaurant, The Frostee, where the Arvest Bank tower on Rogers Avenue now stands.  City developers began widening Rogers in the mid-1960's in anticipation of a new (Central) mall to be constructed directly across from the Shopfner's restaurant.  This road widening took a large portion of The Frostee's parking lot and prompted the Shopfners to explore possibilities of a new location.

In 1961, the Shopfner's restaurant relocated to 1102 Fort Street in Barling under a new name.  The Shopfners name the venture Bruce Terri Drive-In after their son and daughter.  In October 1987, Chuck and Terri assumed responsibility for the restaurant, a duty they still hold today.  When Chuck and Terri took over, they added "Catering" to the name.  Although the restaurant remains packed with faithful followers of Peacock's barbecue, catfish, and desserts, catering has become the specialty of Bruce Terri.

More than 75% of this catering is for corporate events, which allow Bruce Terri to establish relationships with local businesses and organizations.  "Individual catering events, such as family reunions, really only requre our services every five or ten years at the most, whereas corporations and organizations typically need catering at least once per year," said Peacock.  "We have proven ourselves over the years to thousands or area businesses, and our corporate clients know that with one call, their catering needs will be taken care of."

Peacock said that Bruce Terri's catering services can handle corporate events for any number, from a board meeting of 20, to a church Easter event in 2003 that fed over 3,000.  The 188th Fighter Wing and Army Reserve are also regular customers.  Bruce Terri routinely caters within a 100 mile radius, from Tulsa to Rogers and occasionally even further.  Over 700 Fort Smith Regional Chamber members and state legislators enjoyed Bruce Terri catfish and barbecue at the 2001 and 2003 Western Arkansas Legislative Galas in Little Rock.  Peacock is adamant that he and/or Terri are present at over 98% of Bruce Terri's catering events.

Bruce Terri's catering secret?  "It's really very simple," said Peacock.  "We make absolutely everything in-house, including our barbecue sauce, cole slaw, beans, and our cobblers.  We cook everything on site, from fish and barbecue, to steaks, chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs.  That's what really makes the difference."  Bruce Terri also provides desserts on-site, including their famed strawberries and soft serve ice cream.  Many of Bruce Terri's desserts date back to the 1960's, including the hot fudge sundaes and banana splits.

Even with such a storied past, Peacock is concentrating on the future.  The next generation of Peacocks, Chip and Kyrk, have already assisted with hundreds of catering events.  Peacock also predicts that Bruce Terri's location will position them to benefit from the development of Fort Chaffee.  ERC Properties of Barling (one of Peacock's most valued customers) has already begun the first housing development to be located at Chaffee.  "We're excited about the future," said Peacock.  "As our area grows, we look forward to meeting the demand."

Bruce Terri Catering & Drive-In is open from 9:30 until 8 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 9:30 am until 3 pm on Saturday.  The drive-in includes seating for 80 with a game room featuring pool tables and pinball machines.

The Chamber is proud to spotlight Bruce Terri Catering & Drive-In and and the many other fine businesses that help drive the Fort Smith regional economy.