5/19/2003 - Golden Rule Gets a Taste of the "Ruben Effect"

For Immediate Release May 19, 2003

Media Contact: Melanie McCraney 205-870-8652
John Bagby 205-253-4362

For the Original Golden Rule Bar-B-Q


Golden Rule Gets a Taste of the "Ruben Effect"

Hometown Barbeque restaurant sends Ruben a little "Taste of Home" for good luck

(Birmingham AL) The Original Golden Rule Bar-B-Q® is hearing from people all over the country after the Irondale restaurant was featured in an Entertainment Tonight story about hometown hero and singing sensation Ruben Studdard, one of the final two contestants on the Fox network's hit show "American Idol."

When a TV crew stopped by the Irondale restaurant unannounced last week, employees praised Ruben, and their enthusiastic words of encouragement ended up on national TV. "You tell Ruben to come to the Golden Rule-he can eat as many slabs of ribs and as many pies as he wants," employee Peggy Martin told Entertainment Tonight. Martin says she has never even met Ruben, but she's a big fan, as are most of the folks in Ruben's hometown.

The story piqued the interest of viewers across the U.S. Since the spot ran last week, Golden Rule restaurants around the state have been fielding calls from New York, Florida, Chicago and points beyond from people interested in their traditional pit barbecue.

"One man even wanted us to send him banana pudding, but we make it fresh every morning and were afraid it wouldn't make the trip very well," says Golden Rule owner Charles Matsos.

Over the weekend, Golden Rule employees wrote good luck letters to Ruben and the store sent bottles of its barbecue sauce out to Ruben in California for a little taste of the "205" to help in his preparation for Tuesday's big finale.

Go Ruben!

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