MusicCityNashville.net: Roy's Meat Service - It's All About BBQ and Community in East Nashville

• All Feature Articles

Roy's Meat Service - It's All About BBQ and Community in East Nashville

by Rich and Laura Lynch

Roy's Meat Service (RMS) in East Nashville is a family-owned business in Tennessee that opened in 2008. RMS is a butcher shop, convenience store, restaurant and most importantly a much loved community gathering spot. It's the type of place where owners Jeff and his wife Christie Roy know their regulars by name. However, this hard-working couple best known for their expertise at creating delicious smoked culinary creations have recently come under fire from a disgruntled neighbor.

Roy's Meat Service - It's All About BBQ and Community in East Nashville

Jeff Roy is a much-loved community figure in the Shelby Hills neighborhood.

Without going into details we will direct you to the many news stories that broke locally last week. But, what we do know is that a nearby neighbor located next to the thriving butcher business and meat and three recently filed a complaint that the constant smoking of meats is negatively impacting their health while adding that part of the restaurant encroaches on their property.

Thus, RMS - a long-established and cherished member of the Shelby Hills community now find themselves in a bind. Additional information can also be found on the GoFundMe page that has been established for RMS to help them pay their mounting legal fees.

"Roy's IS A Neighborhood TREASURE - We Love Roy's" - is the rallying cry of fans supporting the family. The ongoing online campaign for Roy's Meat Service has raised over $40,000 so far to help as this legal battle has become an emotional and financial burden for the family.

Since we live in South Nashville, we were not familiar with this place until we saw a Facebook post on Hip East Nashville about it. On Thursday, March 14, 2024 we found ourselves at another East Nashville favorite - Grimey's to watch blues guitar legend Taj Mahal do his thing. Since it was dinner hour we decided to head on over to RMS to try the food service and see if it lived up to the dozens of favorable reviews we had seen on the web.

This mural has popped up in and around RMS in East Nashville.

RMS is well marked with signage and we were able to park on the street. Since it was our first time the person at the counter helped us navigate the menu. This casual cafe has a few tables inside and outside although it seems like a lot of the locals were ordering take out. RMS also sells beer, cold drinks, grocery items and of course meat that you can take home and cook yourself.

Within a few short minutes we had our meat with two sides and all was delicious. Plus, it was very reasonably priced. As we were leaving the chief chef was holding court with friends but made it a point to say hello and asked us what we had ordered and wanted to confirm that we had enjoyed our meal which we did. In the course of conversation with Jeff he told us about a free block party that happens every year and he invited us to attend this year's gathering on June 15 in front of the store. It is an opportunity for neighbors to mingle while supporting a good cause which this year is Box 55.

Box 55 provides on scene rehab services to all First Responders - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Their trucks are equipped with a microwave, coffee makers, misting fans, tents, folding chairs, propane heaters, cold drinks and snacks to nourish and assist First Responders as they recover from fighting fires and others hazards here in Nashville.

The Roy's proudly support these types of events and the family has long standing ties to the community. In the 1940's, Jeff's grandfather was an iceman while his uncle was the milkman and Jeff's Dad ran a store. So, as you can see - the Roy's have a rich history in this region. So, please support RMS by visiting their restaurant and/or joining the GoFundMe campaign - and come on out to their gathering in June. We sure hope their new neighbors like block parties!