‘Bar J’ returns, bringing memories and chili to Occoquan

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Bar J is back.

Bar J’s Chili Parlour and Restaurant, a family owned chain of Tex-Mex restaurants that were popular in the 1980’s and 90’s, are reopening in Occoquan on 101 Mill Street.

Kathy Anderson, the daughter of Bar J’s original owner John Anderson, has decided to partner with her son to restart the restaurant.

According to Anderson, her desire to keep cooking came in-part from memories of her father, who was known for his interesting dishes he created at home.

“My father was always cooking…he was always creating. He’s just one of those guys that could taste something, and literally tell you every spice that was in it. But when it came to making chili, he took every spice out – the cabinets were just wide open…my father is from Tennessee, and we used to all get together to make hot tamales,” said Anderson.

Anderson talked fondly about her father’s growing list of restaurants – up to 13 locations at one point – and how Bar J got ‘put on the map’.

“The original Bar J started in 1981 with my father, and my mother, and myself…in 1984 we won the D.C.’s Best chili cook off. And that pretty much put us on the map. We had a line out the door, when we got back from the chili cook off,” said Anderson.

The Bar J locations were open for several years before Anderson and her father decided to retire around 2004.

“In 2004, my father decided to retire…back in 2003, I actually decided to retire from Bar J…and I just couldn’t get the cooking passion out of my system, and I took a job over at Wegmans, and I was cooking at Wegmans for over seven years…it’s been about five years since my son and I decided we were going to look around and see if we could open up a Bar J again,” said Anderson.

While the Bar J location will be new, Anderson said that they would be bringing back the original menu, including their Texas chili, Cincinnati chili, fajitas, Mexican ‘hot’ burrito, pork burrito, pollo loco and sopapillas.

“We do sopapillas different than anybody else – and I think that’s what the customers love about it. We don’t cut them up into little triangles and make them ‘poofy’. We do it with a whole flour tortilla. We fold it, and roll it…we put on strawberries and whipped cream, and we do one with honey and cinnamon,” said Anderson.

When asked about how Bar J plans to contend with other restaurants in Occoquan – like Madigan’s Waterfront and the Virginia Grill – she wasn’t worried.

“Oh, I’m not competing with anybody – I’m just a different restaurant. I think that [Bar J] coming to Occoquan is going to help all of the businesses,” said Anderson.

One of the biggest advantages Anderson will have with restarting Bar J is its almost cult-like following in the community. Dozens of former customers have reached out to express excitement and to offer help.

“It is so amazing that the people [remember us] and the stories – wow. Meeting people that were little kids, grown up now…one girl told me that her grandfather was one of my regulars…but she was a little girl and she used to sit in the both at Lorton Bar J, and she would stand up on the booth, and there was a window to the kitchen, and she would always look through…and now her kids are five, six, and she can’t wait to bring them. It’s just a feeling like you’re at home,” said Anderson.

According to Anderson, the Bar J will feature a concrete horseshoe bar, polished concrete floors, etched mirrors from the original Bar J – and next year – they’re hoping to add a patio for customers to dine outside on the water.

Anderson is hoping that Bar J will be open for the holiday season, after they’ve completed the renovations.