A Legacy Born on Apache Street
In 1993, Almead Stutts opened the doors of Stutts House of Bar‑B‑Que with little more than faith, courage, and a smoker that never cooled. On a storied stretch of Apache Street, she built more than a restaurant – she built a refuge.
As a Black woman entrepreneur in North Tulsa, Almead faced barriers that could have stopped her before she ever started. But she met every challenge with determination and grace. Her barbecue became a symbol of perseverance: seasoned with resilience, served with love, and shared with everyone who stepped inside.
For decades, Stutts House of Bar‑B‑Que has been a place where people gather, reconnect, and feel at home. It is a cornerstone of North Tulsa’s cultural landscape – a reminder that community grows strongest around tables where everyone is welcome.
Through Every Trial
Keeping a small business alive for more than thirty years is no small feat. Almead weathered storms that tested her spirit and her livelihood:
- Health challenges that demanded strength.
- Road construction that cut off her customers.
- A pandemic that silenced dining rooms across the country.
Yet the fires never went out. The smoke kept rising. And the community kept coming – because Stutts House of Bar‑B‑Que has always been more than a place to eat. It has been a place to belong.
A New Symbol Beside the Smoke
Today, a new landmark stands beside the restaurant: the NTEDi Community Art Initiative phone booth, Our Peace.
Painted in vibrant red, the booth is more than an art installation. It is a conversation piece, a call to reflection, and a celebration of North Tulsa’s creative spirit. It represents connection – the same kind of connection Almead has nurtured for decades through food, friendship, and faith.
Together, Stutts House of Bar‑B‑Que and Our Peace tell a shared story of endurance and renewal. One built from smoke and soul; the other from color and community.
The Spirit of North Tulsa
Almead Stutts’s journey reminds us that progress is not only measured in new buildings or plans. It is measured in people who keep showing up, keep feeding others, and keep believing in the power of place.
Her legacy stands as a living chapter in North Tulsa’s story – proof that when we nurture our roots, our peace grows beside them.
