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Stacy Franklin turned her husband's passion for barbecue into a business

You know Franklin Barbecue – it’s one of the most popular barbecue joints in Texas. But do you know the woman behind the business?

AUSTIN, Texas — As part of KVUE's celebration of Women’s History Month, we visited Stacy Franklin at her iconic restaurant, Franklin Barbecue.

She turned her husband's barbecue dream into a business. She's the co-founder and COO that keeps the popular Austin restaurant serving up deliciousness, and she's blazing a path for other women to do the same – and she’s respected for it!

Working in the restaurant industry for most of her life, Stacy Franklin stepped into a new role when she and her husband wanted to turn a hobby into a full-time job.

“I figured out how to get started. While he brought his passion for barbecue, I brought the business side,” Stacy Franklin said.

Franklin Barbecue has become an Austin staple, well-known across the state of Texas. You can usually find a line wrapped around the restaurant hours before they open and their meat sold out by lunchtime. 

But in the beginning, Stacy Franklin quickly learned that in this industry, respect wasn’t always easily given to women.

“I had a woman ask me what it was like working for my husband, and that really sticks out for me. That was sort of a dagger,” she said. “I don’t work for my husband – we are co-collaborators.”

Now she's one of the most respected restauranteurs in Austin. When she’s not busy keeping Franklin Barbecue the iconic place that it is, she spends her time helping mentor women coming up in food and beverage.

“It’s important for me to see women being given the same opportunities,” she said. 

To learn more about the Franklin Barbecue story, check out their website and follow the restaurant on Instagram.

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