History uncovered by tornado: Hunt’s One Stop Service

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- In the wake of destruction left by the December 11th tornadoes… a piece of Bowling Green history was uncovered along the 31 W Bypass.

An old, worn sign advertising ‘Hunt’s One Stop Service’ was revealed behind the current façade of the building at the corner of the 31 W Bypass and Cabell Lane. 

To this day… residents who lived in Bowling Green during the 1950s and 60s can still taste the mouth-watering barbeque sandwiches Hunt’s served. 

“A big corn cake. They would do barbeque on it and if you wanted a slice of American cheese and then they would put another corn cake on top,” said customer Ray Buckberry. 

Raymond Hunt opened the one stop service in the early 1950s. It was one of the only restaurants open 24 hours a day. 

“Sophomore, junior, senior year of high school, that was one of my favorite places to go to get a barbeque sandwich,” said customer Bob Kirby. 

Some big names in town also frequented Hunt’s. 

“Hunt’s was one of those places where you look up and you see the chief of police, the county judge and so forth,” said Buckberry. 

The big names and the BBQ sandwiches weren’t the only draw… the community barbeque pit had its own appeal. 

“The barbeque pit was facing the building on the left side of the parking lot and that’s where you picked up and took meat to be barbecued,” said Kirby. 

Without an overwhelming amount of dining choices in 1950’s Bowling Green… Hunt’s was *the* place to be. 

“It really was a good community thing. You didn’t have in those days, a bunch of franchise foods, you didn’t have KFC, you didn’t have all the various franchise opportunities,” said Buckberry. 

Hunt’s closed in the late 1960s after Hunt died. But the memories of the iconic place will live on.

“I’ve never heard an adverse comment about Hunt’s One Stop,” said Buckberry.