The corporation is appropriately named Two Podners, and James Runnels and Fred Conwright are exactly that: two friends, two associates, and two business partners. For over a decade, they’ve been working together to achieve the same goal.
Delivering quality service, food and satisfaction will always be the trademark of Two Podners as the two enterprising entrepreneurs continue to expand the corporation and diversity of its services.
The dream for Runnels and Conwright began materializing in 1981, with the opening of the first Two Podners (formerly Ponderosa Barbecue) on Pennsylvania Avenue. They invested everything in the project with both men working two jobs to help make the business grow. Hard work and perseverance was paying off when a pit fire in 1982 resulted in the total devastation of the facility.
“We lost our shirt in that deal,” acknowledged Conwright. But they bounced back in late 1982; they opened another store on Loop 12, shortly before reopening the Pennsylvania Avenue store in 1983.