Nearly four decades after its opening, Hecky’s Barbecue is continuing the legacy of its namesake, Hecky Powell, who died last May of complications from COVID-19.
Hecky Powell’s wife Cheryl Judice, who started the restaurant with him in 1983, said his impact on the community was enormous she has a bag full of about 400 condolence cards that were sent to her after his passing.
“Fully half of them contain little notes, that’ll say something like, ‘I’m so sorry for your loss. I know Hecky from blank; this is what Hecky did for me,’” she said. “And it’s just overwhelming.”