The third week of November 2021 was one of the busiest of the year. There was no shortage of ways to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. But the Boro Blue Mile was hopping for one very specific reason. Tuesday the 16th was the long-awaited opening of Dolan’s Bar B Que.
The spot was informally known as “the old McDonald’s.” The location at the corner of South Main and Jones is right at the sweet spot between the college and downtown. With plenty of parking, and such a great location, Dolan’s has a lot going for it already.
But, it’s not just the location that has made Dolan’s so successful in the few short months it’s been open. Two Millen born sisters with a taste for excellent food, great fellowship, and fantastic music are the driving force behind one of the newest live music hot spots in the Boro.
Sisters Mary Beth Brown & Lazar Oglesby started Dolan’s Bar-B-Que in November 2015. Lazar is an alumna of Ogeechee Tech with a Culinary Arts degree. Mary Beth is a Georgia Southern graduate with a degree in Hospitality Management. The two are probably best known for the catering company Honey Specialties, one of the best loved catering and confectionery companies in the area. When they decided to expand their offerings, they named it after their grandfather.
“He had a larger than life personality and a deep love for family and food,” says Brown. His picture adorns the back wall of Dolan’s and is one of the sisters’ favorite features of the restaurant.
With a new view on barbecue, their newest venture comes complete with full bar, indoor and outdoor seating. The doors are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. with the kitchen closing at 9. When asked what sets Dolan’s apart, Brown explains that, in addition to the bar, they have that little something extra. Their specialty market store inside sells Honey’s famous cheesecake, chicken salad, pimento cheese, pre-made casseroles and specialty local products.
The exciting part is their plan to have live music at least one night or day every weekend.
“As the weather gets nicer,” Brown added, “it will be more often because our musicians are set up on our porch. Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons are the main days/times that we focus on.”
Dolan’s has already hosted some of Statesboro’s most well-known musicians, including The Ripleys, Dan Larkin, Scott Welcker, Daniel Navarro, Matt Waters and Miranda Winters.
The ladies have big plans for the coming months, including a competition spanning several months. During the contest, the Dolan’s bar will work with local businesses developing and promoting a specialty cocktail where part of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity.
In the meantime, folks looking for a bar, the que and bands can check out Dolan’s social media pages for upcoming live music information and posts of their delectable specials. I don’t know about y’all, but I am suddenly craving ribs. The ladies leave us with this: “Dolan’s is a locally owned business that takes pride in serving a slow crafted product. We are excited to be a part of the Statesboro community!”