dewey j. Guida jr. - italian - american of the year
Dewey J. Guida Jr. was born to Dewey and Rose Guida in Steubenville on May 3, 1944. He graduated from Steubenville Catholic Central in 1962. He married Karen (Luscher) in 1970, and moved to Weirton. Dewey and Karen have 4 children (Dewey III, Joseph, Kara, and Michael) They have 5 grandchildren.
In 1980, Dewey remodeled a 2200 square foot car wash in Weirton into a 60-seat restaurant called Dee Jay’s BBQ Ribs. Customers began traveling from miles around to enjoy the tender ribs! In 2004, a larger Dee Jay’s was built on Three Springs Drive. The new 7000 square foot, 210-seat casual dining restaurant continues to feature the famous BBQ Ribs.
Over the past 40 years, Dee Jay’s has won numerous awards for “Best of the Best”- in categories of BBQ Ribs, Burgers, Specialty Salads, Wings, Take Out, Atmosphere, and Friendly service. Also rated in the “Top 9” restaurants in the Ohio Valley by WTOV9. Recently, Dee Jay’s was named in the “Top 50 BBQ Restaurants in the Country” and “#1 in West Virginia” by the Food Network.
Dee Jay’s has hosted many fundraisers for Breast Cancer, Make A Wish, United Way and many other worthwhile causes. They have served athletes from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates, as well as famous actors, and musicians. Visiting politicians include a past US President, Senators, Congressmen, and many Governors.
Dewey serves as a Board member of the National Restaurant Association, West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, former Member of the Governor’s Economic Development Commission, and Co-Chair on the Governor’s (2016) Transition Team for Tourism. In 2003, he was given the “Distinguished West Virginian” award and in 2018, he was inducted into “The Weirton Hall of Fame.”
Dee Jay has a staff of 88 employees and is proud to have served millions of pounds of BBQ Ribs to millions of people!