Orly’s BBQ

EAGLE PASS, Texas — Orly’s BBQ has been open in Eagle Pass for over four years. The business was originally based out of San Antonio. In 2019, Susana Rivera, who is originally from Eagle Pass, and her husband decided to bring their business back home.

“We wanted to share our recipes and food with our local community,” Rivera said.

Compared to San Antonio, Eagle Pass is a much smaller community with less competition. When they moved their business to Eagle Pass it was the first barbecue restaurant in the area.

“It went very well, people loved it and so far, we are still here,” Rivera said.

Recently, Rivera reported that the business has been doing very well. When Biden and Trump came to town in late February, a flood of reporters followed, bringing in lots of business for Orly’s BBQ, according to Rivera.

Not only have media workers been a new customer of Orly’s but, Rivera has also had migrants and their families come to eat at her restaurant.

“I would always offer them free food,” Rivera said. “They would come in and I would feed them what they asked for because I felt bad myself. When I went up to them and I offered they said no, we have money to pay for the food. They always pay for their meals.”

Even with the business being located so close to the border, Rivera disclosed that migrants have not caused her or her business any problems.

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This project was created through a journalism class at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies Department. This work was made possible through the support of MPC Endowment Ltd., the philanthropic affiliate of the Milwaukee Press Club.