In the mid-1960’s, Michael Schroeder was in Austin, Texas, engaged in his favorite pastime. Another player, short on cash but long on nerve, covered Schroeder’s bet by offering “half my restaurant.” Schroeder’s three 3’s beat a pair of queens. When it was time to pay up, the owner of the barbecue restaurant insisted that he meant “half the space,” not a “half interest.” Schroeder’s “half” was an empty room in the back.

Angered by the sleazy tactic, Schroeder collected his grandmother’s barbecue recipes and set up a restaurant-within-a-restaurant.

Customers were aware of the shared-space arrangement. And, although his seating space was limited to 40 people, his barbecue was so superior that customers were soon asking specifically to be seated in the back forty. Business in the front section dwindled; Schroeder bought out the owner and turned it into a legendary barbecue chain. As one of the nation’s Top-24 Barbecue Teams, Back Forty has been invited to compete in the annual National BBQ Rib Cook-Off since 1991.