Sweet Georgia Brown
2840 E Ledbetter Dr, Dallas, TX 75216
Texas is known for good Southern comfort food. When you find a place that serves outstanding Southern comfort food, with Texas size portions, well then, you most likely have stumbled into Sweet Georgia Brown in south Dallas.  BBQ, fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, this place serves some of the best you will ever find. Everything is served in to go containers, which is good because the portions are so large, two to three people can eat from one order. I can go on and on and describe the creamy mashed potatoes or the perfectly fried HUGE pork chops, but words alone can’t do this place justice. Â
Sweet Georgia Brown has been a staple restaurant for nearly 30 years in the southern portion of Dallas. Monday through Friday lunch hours are filled with staff from the near by Veterans Hospital. On Sundays one can see the line of hungry customers overflowing the doors. The prices are around $15.00 a plate, but like I mentioned earlier the portions will certainly feed more than one person.
I am sure many have read articles remarkably similar to this one regarding Sweet Georgia Brown. What I was not aware of was the story that is behind the making of this long-time successful eatery. The owner’s name is Walter (known as Walt) Williams. Mr. Williams has lived an inspiring and remarkable life.
Walt was born in 1954 in South Bronx, New York. He was one of six children born into a deprived single parent household. The six siblings would often attend school hungry, unkept and neglected. The school officials reported the suspected negligence to the state and soon the children were removed from their home.
By the age of seven Walt was placed in a home for orphaned and abused children. It was in that group home that he was introduced to two important things that would lead him to where he is today. In that children’s home he learned he was good at playing football and discovered the wonderful world of cooking.
After he graduated from high school, Williams knew he had to take the next step in life and attend college. Williams allowed a leap of faith to direct him to where he needed to go. He has stated he remembers holding a list of colleges in his hand. He closed his eyes and allowed his hand land on what college he needed to attend. This act led him to go to New Mexico State University. William believed this was God’s way of guiding him on the right path.
Days later he hitchhiked from New York to Las Cruces, New Mexico. It took him three weeks to get there, and when he arrived, he marched right into the university’s football office. He announced his name once he entered and informed the head football coach, he was there to play football and they needed to get to work. This unorthodox introduction worked so well Williams ended up playing football for New Mexico State University.
In 1977 he was first player picked for the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He was a cornerback for the Lions until. He then played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears. Walt played professional football for 6 successful years. He has bragging rights to the fact he played alongside NFL Hall of Famer, Walter Payton. After his retirement from the NFL he returned to New Mexico and started a real estate development company. This company became highly successful and Williams found himself far removed from his humble beginnings.
When the Savings and Loan crisis hit in 1986, Williams lost 90 percent of his holdings. This financial lost cost him approximately $480 million and even this enormous tragedy didn’t keep this fighter down. He may have lost more money than you and I could ever see in a lifetime, but the Savings and Loan crisis was not able to steal his hope and joy.
Williams viewed this event as an opportunity to take advantage of another love in his life. Williams next step was to invest his time and business sense into cooking food he loved. Thankfully for us, he moved to Dallas, Texas and opened Sweet Georgia Brown in a boarded-up former Burger King on Ledbetter. He didn’t seek fame and fortune. He had both in abundance once before. This time he was in search of an honest, dependable, and steady cash flow.
Williams has served more to our community than some of the best tasting food we have ever eaten. He has served us moments in life that we have enjoyed with our friends and family. During the holidays I have seen customers buy family sized portions of side and main dishes from Sweet Georgia Brown. During any holiday and celebrations, we tend to remember the smells and taste of meals shared with special friends and family members. Sweet Georgia Brown’s food is as fondly remembered as the people, conversations and events celebrated.
Today, Sweet Georgia Brown remains a popular and busy restaurant. Generations of customers return year after year to enjoy some of the best southern comfort food made. I hope you visit Sweet Georgia Brown soon, and I hope when you do visit you remember the inspiring story behind the great tasting food.
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