From the Smokehouse to the Courthouse: The Memphis Work Ethic of Mitzi Pollard
June 06, 2026
Candidate for Circuit Court Magistrate Mitzi Pollard shares how lessons from her family’s iconic A&R Bar-B-Que shape her approach to justice.

Written By JR Robinson

Every corner of Memphis has a story, but few places capture the literal flavor, grit, and heart of the city quite like A&R Bar-B-Que. For decades, the iconic local institution has been far more than a place to get a legendary meal; it has been a community gathering space, a testament to family entrepreneurship, and a frontline observer of everyday Memphis life.

For Magistrate Mitzi Pollard, A&R Bar-B-Que is also home. It is the place where her foundational understanding of public service, community connection, and work ethic was permanently forged long before she ever put on a judicial robe.

"Watching my family build and run A&R Bar-B-Que taught me so much about the people of Memphis," Pollard reminisces, her eyes lighting up at the connection between her family’s business roots and her career in the law. "I had the distinct opportunity to see firsthand the absolute value of hard work, sacrifice, resilience, and treating people with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or their current circumstances."

Growing up within a prominent local family business provides a unique, unvarnished perspective on the community. It strips away academic theories about society and replaces them with daily, face-to-face human interaction. In a busy Memphis restaurant, just like in a busy metropolitan courtroom, you see the entire spectrum of human experience pass through the front doors.

In her own Words!
"The family business gives you a front-row seat to everyday life," Pollard explains. "You meet people who are celebrating birthdays, marriages, or major life milestones. But you also see them when they are at their absolute lowest point, when they have experienced a devastating personal loss. I learned very early on that many people are working incredibly hard every single day while quietly carrying heavy burdens that most of us will never see."
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