SOUTH DEERFIELD — A taste of the South can be found in South Deerfield.

Zack’s Texas Style BBQ, located at 20 Elm St. in the former Damn Yankees BBQ location, opened its doors last week. The establishment specializes in a menu of barbecue classics, including pulled pork, burgers and brisket.

Owners Zack and Ashley Langlois said the idea came to them when brainstorming what type of food was missing from the region.

“Two years ago we were sitting down thinking, ‘What does the valley need up there?’” Zack Langlois said. “We kind of went to work doing our research as far as barbecue and what we need to do.”

Langlois just closed his first restaurant, Legacy Craft Smokehouse in Hatfield, and sought to rebrand while moving across county lines to South Deerfield. He said his wife came up with the name and they decided to run with it.

“We just decided that a rebrand and whatnot would be a good idea,” Langlois said. “We were kind of throwing around names and she said, ‘Zack’s BBQ,’ and I said, “I don’t like the spotlight necessarily,’ but it’s just easy to say and catchy.”

He likens barbecue to the beer industry in the way there’s a deep level of intricacy that comes with the preparation. Langlois joked that his prior barbecue experience was limited to “flipping burgers,” but he plunged deep into research and has since honed his craft.

“Its kind of like craft beer,” Langlois said. “This day and age you can see everything under the sun as far as what people like and the experience people want to see. We learned a lot through, honestly, documentaries and just studying the gods of barbecue down South and what they’re producing and what their methods are. … It’s amazing what fire does to meat. It’s unlike any other cooking out there.”

Zack’s Texas Style BBQ offers BBQ staples like brisket, but Langlois said vegetarian and gluten-free options are available so everyone can have a taste of the South.

He added that South Deerfield was the right location for the restaurant because it is becoming a destination for people. Langlois said nearby businesses like Tree House Brewing and Yankee Candle do a great job of bringing people to town.

“We just felt that with Yankee Candle right here and Tree House Brewery opening that it was a no-brainer in our eyes to be smack dab in the middle,” he said. “It’s way more of a destination than Legacy was for sure, and that’s what we’re trying to create.”

Langlois said he and his wife’s goal is to turn a trip to the restaurant into a family experience. He said this includes hosting pig roasts on Saturdays and encouraging people to get together outside.

“It’s not necessarily about the food, but it’s getting people together and enjoying each other’s company,” he said. “I want to create an environment where you want to put the phone down, you want to stay off the screen, you want to talk to each other and interact.”

Restaurant staff will be wearing masks and sanitizing regularly. He said creating a safe place to dine during the pandemic is his top priority.

“One thing I’ve learned throughout this whole thing is people just want a safe place to get good food,” he said. “We have to create that environment that people feel safe coming to, that they know down to our core, that we’re doing everything we can to be safe.”

Langlois is hoping to foster this environment at his restaurant and around South Deerfield.

“I would love to support the school districts in any facet that we can, catering and stuff like that to promote and help,” Langlois said. “At the end of the day, the town is our support system and we want to support the town just as much as they’re reaching out and helping us.”

He credited his wife for supporting him and the restaurant, while also caring for their 1-year-old son, Krew.

“A big thank you to these two for letting me pursue a dream,” Langlois said, pointing to Ashley and Krew. “It’s not an easy endeavor, taking care of a little man and running her business. She definitely carries the load some days and moms don’t get enough credit in that regard.”

Ashley operates the restaurant’s Facebook page and she said the amount of public interest expressed is very encouraging.

“We have a lot of support in the area,” Ashley Langlois said, “which is amazing.”

She said she loves supporting her husband as they open the restaurant.

“This is really his dream to open this place up,” she said. “I’m just here to support him and make sure the wheels don’t fall off.”

Zack’s Texas Style BBQ is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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